Selective Synthesis of Substituted Imidazoles

2014-03-12

1-Substituted 2-,4-,and 5-cyanoimidazoles were produced by reaction of 3-cyclohexyl or 3-p-tolylimidazole 1-oxide and trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of triethylamine. The product composition depended on reaction temperature and solvent polarity. By proper choice of these parameters each isomer could be obtained selectively in reasonable yield.