Iron(III)/Iodine-Catalyzed C(sp2)H Activation of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes/Ketones with Amidines: Synthesis of 1,2,4,5-Tetrasubstituted Imidazoles

An efficient methodology to access a library of 1,2,4,5‐tetrasubstituted imidazoles from a broad range of amidines and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes/ketones via a C(sp2)H amination has been developed. This method represents a new and simple way to prepare highly substituted imidazoles from easily available starting materials, inexpensive catalysts, and with good functional group tolerance in good to excellent yields.