Efficient syntheses of 2-fluoroalkylbenzimidazoles and -benzothiazoles

We report an efficient one-step route to 2-fluoroalkylbenzimidazoles and -benzothiazoles via the condensation of fluorinated carboxylic acids and aromatic diamines or aminothiophenols. Additionally, we describe the syntheses of fluoroalkyl-azabenzimidazoles, -purines, and -imidazolopyrazines. This method is high-yielding with broad scope and is operationally simple with potential application to parallel synthesis.