Synthesis and spectral studies of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole derivatives. I

The syntheses of some 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (I) derivatives have been described. While preparing such compounds it has been observed that I reacts predominantly as the thione under anhydrous reaction conditions, and as the thiol in the presence of an alkali. Strutures of all of the nine compounds have been established with the help of spectral methods including ¹³C nmr spectroscopy of the two compounds (II and III).