Efficient synthesis of imidazoles from aldehydes and 1,2-diketones using microwave irradiation

A simple, high-yielding synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles from 1,2-diketones and aldehydes in the presence of NH4OAc is described. Under microwave irradiation, alkyl-, aryl-, and heteroaryl-substituted imidazoles are formed in yields ranging from 80 to 99%. Short syntheses of lepidiline B and trifenagrel illustrate the utility of this approach.