Synthesis of 1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4H-benzimidazol-4-one derivatives from 2,6-bis(hydroxyimino)cyclohexan-1-one

The reaction of 2,6-bis(hydroxyimino)cyclohexan-1-one with aldehydes and ammonia afforded 2-substituted 4-hydroxyimino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-benzimidazol-1-ols which were hydrolyzed to 1-hydroxy- 2-R-1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4H-benzimidazol-4-ones. The N-hydroxy group in the latter can readily by removed by the action of chloroacetone in the presence of a base (potassium carbonate or triethylamine); as a result, 2-substituted 1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4H-benzimidazol-4-ones were obtained.