Efficient Synthesis of N‐Oxide Derivatives: Substituted 2‐(2‐(Pyridyl‐N‐oxide)methylsulphinyl)benzimidazoles

Abstract Different substituted 2‐chloromethylpyridyl derivatives (6a–d) were oxidized with mCPBA to give the respective 2‐chloromethylpyridine‐N‐oxide derivatives (7a–d) at low temperature, which on condensation with 2‐mercapto‐1H‐benzimidazole (8a–c) in the presence of aprotic solvents give the 2‐[[(pyridin‐2‐yl‐1‐oxide)methyl]sulfanyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole (9a–d) in good yield. Finally, 9a–d oxidized with mCPBA in chlorinated solvent gives a mixture of 2‐[[(pyridin‐2‐yl‐1‐oxide)methyl]sulfonyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole (3a–d, 10%) and 2‐[[(pyridin‐2‐yl‐1‐oxide) methyl]sulfinyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole (4a–d, 90%) derivatives.