Synthesis of imidazoles via hetero-cope rearrangements

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00077a033

A novel synthetic approach to heterocycles containing the imidazole moiety based on the multihetero-Cope rearrangement is described. Oximes are reacted with benzenecarboximidoyl chlorides 4 affording adducts that readily undergo the hetero-Cope rearrangement at slightly elevated temperatures. Acid treatment of the resulting amidines 8 provides imidazoles in very high yields.