Optimization of Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Substituted Imidazoles – A Green Approach

The design of experiments, and optimization of the variables that might affect the yield or quality of the product has been widely used in pharmaceutical research. The objective of this study was to develop optimized conditions for the microwave-assisted synthesis of imidazole and their N-substituted derivatives by the use of optimization techniques. A 22 factorial design was employed for optimization using microwave power and microwave time as independent factors and percent yield as the response factor. Imidazoles 4a-m were synthesized using the optimized reaction conditions by reaction of benzyl, ammonium acetate, and aromatic aldehydes while N-substituted derivatives of 4a-m were synthesized in alkaline conditions by reaction with 2-chloromethyl pyridine.