A new facile method for the synthesis of 1-arylimidazole-5-carboxylates

Abstract A new facile method for the preparation of 1-arylimidazole-5-carboxylates was developed. The new method involved reaction of anilines and ethyl glyoxylate in methanol to give α-anilino-α-methoxyacetates followed by cyclization with TosMIC, affording 1-arylimidazole-5-carboxylates in two steps in 40–94% overall yields.