Transition‐Metal‐Free N‐Functionalization of Benzimidazoles and Related Azaheterocycles with α‐Acyloxy Sulfides

Abstract Direct N ‐functionalization of benzimidazoles and related azaheterocycles has been achieved using readily accessible α ‐acyloxy sulfides under transition metal‐free conditions. In the presence of the base, potassium carbonate, a variety of N ‐functionalized azaheterocyclic compounds bearing an N ‐alkyl ester moiety were synthesized from corresponding heterocyclic precursors. The present reaction does not use transition metals, is operationally simple, and has broad substrate scope. magnified image