Alkylation of Ethyl 2-Aryl-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylates with Benzyl Halides

Alkylation of ethyl 2-aryl-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylates with substituted benzyl hal-ides led to the selective formation of O-alkoxy derivatives. Products of N-alkylation(1-alkylimidazole 3-oxides) could be obtained by condensation reaction from acyclic starting compounds. If a 2-hydroxy-phenyl moiety was present in position 2 of imidazole ring, then monoalkylation proceeded selectively at hydroxy group of the nitrogen atom of heterocycle.