Cobalt(II) Phthalocyanine Catalyzed One‐Pot Synthesis of 2‐Substituted Benzimidazoles, Benzothiazoles and Benzoxazoles from Substituted Benzyl Alcohols

Cobalt(II) phthalocyanine catalyzed one‐pot efficient synthetic procedure for the synthesis of 2‐substituted benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles and benzoxazoles has been developed by using molecular oxygen as an oxidant. Varieties of o‐substituted anilines were successfully used as the substrates for the current catalytic reaction and were transformed in good to excellent yields of products. Different electron rich and electron deficient benzyl alcohols are used as the substrates to give the excellent yield of products. The synthesis of 2‐substituted benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles and benzoxazoles have been carried out from o‐substituted anilines and benzyl alcohols catalyzed by cobalt(II) phthalocyanine. The catalyst is easily separated from the reaction mixture and is reused up to five catalytic cycles.