Abstract
4 (7)- or 5 (6)-Substituted 2-methylbenzimidazole derivatives (III) were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding 2-chloro-2'-nitroacetanilide (II) in a good yield. Further, a mixture of 5 (6)-methoxy-2-methyl-6 (5)-nitrobenzimidazole (IVc) and its 4 (7)-nitro isomer was obtained by the reaction of 5 (6)-methoxy-2-methylbenzimidazole (IIIc) with fuming nitric acid. Similarly, nitration of 2, 4 (7)-dimethylbenzimidazole (IIId) gave 2, 4 (7)-dimethyl-5 (6)-nitrobenzimidazole (IVd). The title compounds were obtained by the reactions shown in Chart 1.
