Regiodivergent synthesis of functionalized pyrimidines and imidazoles through phenacyl azides in deep eutectic solvents (Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry)

Abstract We report that phenacyl azides are key compounds for a regiodivergent synthesis of valuable, functionalized imidazole (32–98% yield) and pyrimidine derivatives (45–88% yield), with a broad substrate scope, when using deep eutectic solvents [choline chloride (ChCl)/glycerol (1:2 mol/mol) and ChCl/urea (1:2 mol/mol)] as environmentally benign and non-innocent reaction media, by modulating the temperature (25 or 80 °C) in the presence or absence of bases (Et3N). Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 1915–1923. doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.158