Copper-catalyzed aerobic benzylic sp3 C-H oxidation mediated synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles via a domino multi-component reaction

An efficient and practical aerobic benzylic sp(3) C-H oxidation as a key step towards the domino multicomponent synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles has been reported. This green methodology employs an inexpensive catalytic copper/oxygen system and proceeds under mild reaction conditions. A variety of substituted imidazoles are prepared in moderate to excellent yields from a-methylene ketones using this innovative methodology.