One-pot synthesis of disubstituted imidazole derivatives from α-azido ketones catalyzed by potassium ethylxanthate

An efficient, novel procedure for the synthesis of new imidazole derivatives from α-azido ketones is described. This reaction proceeds via dimerization of aryl glyoxal imino generated from α-azido ketones in the presence of potassium ethylxanthate as a catalyst. A possible mechanism for the entire sequence is proposed.