Polyethylene glycol (PEG-400): An efficient and recyclable reaction medium for the synthesis of novel 1; 5-benzodiazepines and their antimicrobial activity

A new series of imidazole-containing 1, 5-benzodiazepines have been synthesized by the condensation of chalcones with o-phenylenediamine using piperidine in polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as an efficient and green reaction solvent. The advantages of this protocol are environmental friendliness, easy work-up, high yields, mild reaction condition and avoidance of expensive catalyst. Furthermore, newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity.