Sulfonic acid functionalized imidazolium salts/ FeCl3 as novel and highly efficient catalytic systems for the synthesis of benzimidazoles at room temperature

Ionic liquid 3-methyl-1-sulfonic acid imidazolium chloride/ FeCl3, as well as ionic liquid 1, 3-disulfonic acid imidazolium chloride/ FeCl3 catalytic systems, efficiently catalyzes the condensation of benzene-1, 2-diamine with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of atmospheric air as a green oxidant in ethyl acetate at room temperature to afford benzimidazole derivatives in high yields and in short reaction times. The reaction is also efficiently performed when carboxylic acids are used instead of aldehydes.