Synthetic approaches to benzimidazoles from o-phenylenediamine: A literature review

The methods for the synthesis of benzimidazoles have become a focus of synthetic organic chemists, as they are useful building blocks for the development of important therapeutic compounds in medicine. Benzimidazole nucleus plays a very important role as a therapeutic agent e.g. antiulcer and anthelmintic drugs. Other benzimidazole derivatives exhibit pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic.