Ultrasound Assisted Cu-catalyzed Synthesis of 1,2-Disubstituted Benzimidazoles as Potential Antibacterial Agents

Background: The ultrasound assisted synthesis and anti-bacterial evaluation of a series of compounds based on 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazole framework is reported here. The approach leading to the synthesis of these compounds involved the Cu-catalyzed coupling-cyclization of N-substituted 2-iodoanilines with benzamide derivatives in the presence of 2-aminoethanol as a ligand. Conclusion: A number of compounds were prepared using this methodology in acceptable yield. Two of these compounds showed promising antibacterial activities when tested against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.