Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds 2016, 52(11), 952–957
prepared, the continuous flow process was initiated. The
1.34 (3H, t, J = 7.3, CH3). 13C NMR spectrum (101 MHz),
δ, ppm: 156.3; 137.8; 135.0; 131.2; 121.2; 118.1; 115.3;
19.2; 11.2. Mass spectrum, m/z: 208 [M+H]+.
pumps assigned for substrate and amine were primed and
flushed with anhydrous EtOH and the pump for the second
step was primed and flushed with deionized water. The
flow system was equipped with two 10-ml capacity coils in
series (coil 1 and coil 2). Three pumps were employed
(pump A, B, and C). The outlets of pumps A and B were
joined to a Y-piece and the outlet of the Y-piece attached to
the "reagent in'' port of the first reactor coil. The "reagent
out" port of the first reactor coil and the outlet of pump C
were attached to a Y-piece and the outlet of the Y-piece
attached to the "reagent in" port of the second reactor coil.
The ''reagent out'' port of the second reactor coil was
directly interfaced with a back pressure regulator after
which there was a short length of tubing leading to a
collection vessel. The flow system was primed using the
equipment manufacturer's suggested start-up sequence. The
entire system was flushed with EtOH for 5 min at a flow
rate of 0.5 ml/min on each pump. The reactor coils were set
at 120°C and the back regulator pressure set at 5 bar. Then,
the substrate 3 and amine solutions were loaded into the
reactor coil at a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min. Once these solu-
tions were completely loaded, both pumps were set to pump
anhydrous EtOH. After 5 min, pump C (pumping the aqueous
base) was started at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. Once the
product mixture was completely out of the system (observed
clearly by the change from red to a colorless solution), all
pumps were stopped. The resulting reaction mixture was
transferred from the collection flask to a separatory funnel.
An extraction with ~15 ml of ethyl acetate was
performed, in order to eliminate the all non-acidic products.
The aqueous layer was acidified using 2 M aqueous HCl,
until pH between 2 and 5 was reached. A color change
from red to yellow in the solution was observed at this point.
The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (3×15 ml). The
combined organic layers were washed with brine (~30 ml)
and dried with Na2SO4. The solvent was removed under
reduced pressure by rotary evaporation affording the pure
benzimidazole N-oxide 1a (39.0 mg, 72%) as a clear
yellow solid. 1H NMR spectrum (300 MHz), δ, ppm
(J, Hz): 7.95 (1H, d, J = 7.1, H-4); 7.72 (1H, d, J = 7.4, H-6);
7.29 (1H, t, J = 8.0, H-5); 2.85–2.78 (2H, m, CH2); 1.83–
1.65 (2H, m, CH2); 0.93 (3H, t, J = 7.4, CH3). 13C NMR
spectrum (101 MHz), δ, ppm: 155.2 (C-2); 137.8 (C-7);
135.1 (C-7a); 131.3 (C-3a); 121.2 (C-5); 118.2 (C-6); 115.5
(C-4); 27.5 (CH2CH2CH3); 20.2 (CH2CH2CH3); 13.8
(CH2CH2CH3). Mass spectrum, m/z: 222 [M+H]+.
7-Nitro-2-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole 3-oxide (1c). To a
glass vial was added 2-chloro-1,3-dinitrobenzene (3) (49.4 mg,
0.245 mmol, 1 equiv) and anhydrous EtOH to a total
volume of 2.5 ml (0.1 M). To another vial was added
benzylamine (50.0 mg, 0.051 ml, 0.470 mmol, 2 equiv) and
made up to 2.5 ml with anhydrous EtOH. A third vial was
filled with 0.3 M K2CO3 in water–2-propanol, 11:2. The
general method was followed for the flow processing step.
The resulting product mixture was transferred from the
collection flask to a separatory funnel. An extraction with
~15 ml of ethyl acetate was performed, in order to
eliminate the all non-acidic products. The aqueous layer
was acidified using 2 M aqueous HCl, until pH between 2
and 5 was reached. A color change from red to yellow in
the solution was observed at this point, along with
formation of a precipitate. The precipitate was isolated by
vacuum filtration, and washed with cold water, affording
the pure benzimidazole 3-oxide 1c (32.9 mg, 53%) as a
1
clear yellow solid. H NMR (400 MHz), δ, ppm (J, Hz):
12.61 (1H, s, NH); 8.31 (2H, dd, J = 6.6, J = 3.0, H Ar);
8.11 (1H, d, J = 7.7, H Ar); 8.01 (1H, d, J = 7.8, H Ar);
7.69–7.56 (3H, m, H Ar); 7.49 (1H, t, J = 8.0, H-5).
13C NMR spectrum (101 MHz), δ, ppm: 150.7; 138.6; 136.7;
131.8; 131.4; 129.3; 129.2; 128.2; 122.6; 119.7; 116.7.
Mass spectrum, m/z: 256 [M+H]+. Found, m/z: 256.0697
[M+H]+. C13H10N3O3. Calculated, m/z: 256.0722.
2-Heptyl-7-nitro-1H-benzimidazole 3-oxide (1d). To a
glass vial was added 2-chloro-1,3-dinitrobenzene (3) (50 mg,
0.247 mmol, 1 equiv) and anhydrous EtOH to a total
volume of 2.5 ml (0.1 M). To another vial was added
octylamine (64 mg, 0.082 ml, 0.496 mmol, 2 equiv) and
made up to 2.5 ml with anhydrous EtOH. A third vial was
filled with 0.3 M K2CO3 in water–2-propanol, 11:2. The
general method was followed for the flow processing step
and the purification protocol used for compound 1c was
followed, affording the pure benzimidazole 3-oxide 1d
1
(47 mg, 69%) as a clear yellow solid. H NMR spectrum
(400 MHz), δ, ppm (J, Hz): 12.11 (1H, s, NH); 8.01 (1H, d,
J = 8.0, H-4); 7.88 (1H, d, J = 7.9, H-6); 7.40 (1H, t, J = 8.0,
H-5); 2.92 (2H, t, J = 7.7, CH2); 1.79 (2H, quint, J = 7.5,
CH2); 1.45–1.13 (8H, m, 4CH2); 0.86 (3H, t, J = 6.7, CH3).
13C NMR spectrum (101 MHz), δ, ppm: 155.4; 137.8;
134.9; 131.2; 121.2; 118.2; 115.3; 31.1; 28.6; 28.3; 26.6;
25.5; 22.0; 13.9. Mass spectrum, m/z: 278 [M+H]+. Found,
m/z: 278.1495 [M+H]+. C14H19N3O3. Calculated, m/z: 278.1505.
7-Nitro-1H-benzimidazole 3-oxide (1e). To a glass vial
was added 2-chloro-1,3-dinitrobenzene (3) (50.0 mg,
0.247 mmol, 1 equiv) and anhydrous EtOH to a total
volume of 2.5 ml (0.1 M). To another vial was added
ethylenediamine (29.7 mg, 0.033 ml, 0.490 mmol, 2 equiv)
and made up to 2.5 ml with anhydrous EtOH. A third vial
was filled with 0.3 M K2CO3 in water–2-propanol, 11:2.
The general method was followed, affording the pure
benzimidazole 3-oxide 1e (40.0 mg, 90%) as a clear yellow
solid. 1H NMR spectrum (400 MHz), δ, ppm (J, Hz): 12.45
(1H, s, NH); 8.71 (1H, s, H-2); 8.08 (1H, d, J = 7.9, H-4);
2-Ethyl-7-nitro-1H-benzimidazole 3-oxide (1b). To a
glass vial was added 2-chloro-1,3-dinitrobenzene (3) (49.9 mg,
0.247 mmol, 1 equiv) and anhydrous EtOH to a total
volume of 2.5 ml (0.1 M). To another vial was added
n-propylamine (28.8 mg, 0.04 ml, 0.490 mmol, 2 equiv)
and made up to 2.5 ml with anhydrous EtOH. A third vial
was filled with 0.3 M K2CO3 in water–2-propanol, 11:2.
The general method was followed, affording the pure
benzimidazole 3-oxide 1b (30.2 mg, 59%) as a clear yellow
solid. 1H NMR spectrum (400 MHz), δ, ppm (J, Hz): 12.15
(1H, s, NH); 8.00 (1H, d, J = 7.9, H-4); 7.87 (1H, d, J = 7.9,
H-6); 7.40 (1H, t, J = 8.0, H-5); 2.95 (2H, q, J = 7.4, CH2);
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