Microwave-Assisted Rapid and Selective Synthesis of cis- and trans-2,4,5-Triarylimidazolines from Aromatic Aldehydes

Microwave irradiation of a mixture of aromatic aldehydes and hexamethyldisilazane in the presence of a solid catalyst such as alumina afforded methanediamines which were efficiently converted to either cis- or trans-2,4,5-triarylimidazolines depending on the base used. A one-pot selective synthesis of cis- and transimidazolines from aromatic aldehydes was achieved under microwave irradiation.