Benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles from styrenes and N-vinylimidazole via palladium catalysed oxidative C=C and C-N bond cleavage

Herein we report a first, palladium catalyzed, one-pot methodology for the synthesis of pharmacologically important benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles from readily available terminal aromatic olefins. The process involves sequential C=C/C-N bond cleavage followed by C-N/C-S bond formation. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.