A versatile synthesis of substituted benzimidazolium salts by an amination/ring closure sequence.

[reaction: see text]. A new method to produce benzimidazolium salts based on a successive Buchwald-Hartwig amination and ring closure is reported. A variety of different benzimidazolium salts can be prepared using this procedure. Amines that bear an alpha-chiral group undergo the reaction to furnish chiral benzimidazolium salts. The salts that lack a C2 substituent on the heterocycle are readily deprotonated to give nucleophilic carbenes.

Expanded scope in ethylene-alkyne cross-metathesis: coordinating heteroatom functionality at the propargylic position.

The Grubbs 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene-substituted ruthenium complex 1 catalyzed ethylene-alkyne cross-metathesis and was shown to tolerate free hydroxyl groups and coordinating functionality at the propargylic and homopropargylic positions. Hindered and enantiomerically enriched 1-substituted alkynes also react efficiently under the reported conditions.