Potassium dihydrogen phosphate catalyzed one-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-triaryl-1H-imidazoles

A simple and efficient method has been developed; benzil/benzoin undergoes smooth condensation with various substituted aldehyde and ammonium acetate in the presence of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) under mild reaction conditions to afford the corresponding trisubstituted imidazole in excellent yields. The method for synthesis of product, the reaction mixture was reflux in ethanol for 40–90 min. The present method is simple, efficient, and cost-effective.