Loadable copper coordination polymers catalyze the green synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives.

Abstract

A novel nitrogen-containing carboxylic acid ligand was meticulously designed and synthesized. This ligand was subsequently employed to fabricate copper-based materials via a hydrothermal synthesis approach. Palladium and ruthenium nanoparticles were then immobilized onto the materials matrices to generate heterogeneous catalysts with targeted catalytic functionalities. The palladium-supported catalyst demonstrated efficacy in facilitating the selective synthesis of 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-N-benzylaniline derivatives through a hydrogen transfer reaction, exhibiting broad functional group compatibility and substrate diversity. Notably, this catalyst also exhibited selective cleavage of the C─N bond within 6-phenyl-5,6-dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline. While, the ruthenium-supported catalyst enabled the selective synthesis of 5,6-dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline derivatives via a dehydrogenation coupling reaction with extensive substrate scope and tolerance for diverse functional groups.