A new route to pyrimido[1,6-a]benzimidazole derivatives

Cyclocondensation of orthophenylendiamines with 3‐bromopropionic acid in PPA afforded 2‐vinylbenzimidazoles which were subsequently converted to their corresponding 2‐(1,2‐dibromoethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazoles on treatment with bromine. Reaction of these compounds with aryl nitriles or aryl isocyanates in basic chloroform yielded 1‐arylpyrimido[1,6‐a]benzimidazoles and 2‐arylpyrimido[1,6‐a]‐benzimidazol‐3‐ones respectively.