An Unexpected Formation of 2-Arylbenzimidazoles from α,α-Diiodo-α’-acetoxyketones and o-Phenylenediamines

An unusual reactivity of the α,α-diiodo-α’-acetoxyketones with o-phenylenediamines is reported through the formation of 2-arylbenzimidazoles. A systematic study through a series of fruitful control experiments and isolation of key intermediates unravelled the unprecedented domino mechanism. This process involves a stepwise two-carbon fragmentation pathway through domino and sequential amidation–aziridination–decarbonylation–I2-mediated aminative cyclization–oxidation reactions. This strategy employs no additives like oxidant, metal catalyst, bases, and represents yet another novel reactivity profile of the building blocks α,α-diiodo-α’-acetoxyketones.