DBSA mediated chemoselective synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles in aqueous media

An efficient synthetic method has been developed for the facile synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles in organized aqueous media in the presence of a surfactant (viz. DBSA) as catalyst and I2 as co-catalyst. The method described has the advantages of operational simplicity, excellent yields, high chemoselectivity, and clean and green reaction profile.