One-Pot Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Bis-Heterocycles: Benzimidazole-, Benzoxazole-, and Benzothiazole-Linked Thiazolidines

A one-pot, three-component synthesis of benzimidazole-linked thiazolidines from 2-cyanomethyl benzimidazole, iso-, isothio-, or isoselenocyanates and 1,2-dichloroethane is reported. Isolation of the key intermediate formed during the course of the reaction validates its mechanistic pathway. Under the same reaction conditions, benzimidazole-linked/fused thiazinanes were obtained when 1,3-dichloropropane or diiodomethane was used.