Synthesis of substituted 1H-imidazol-1-ylmethylpiperidines. Facile separation of 1,4- and 1,5-disubstituted imidazoles

The synthesis of several 1H-imidazol-1-ylmethylpiperidines is described. A method for the regioselective isolation of 1,4-disubstituted imidazoles utilizing the selective quaternization of the 1,5-disubstituted regioisomer was developed.