CONVENIENT NOVEL SYNTHESES OF 1,1-BIS(HETEROARYL)ALKANES

A variety of symmetrical 1,1-bis(heteroaryl)alkanes are prepared in excellent yields from the reaction of N-(alpha-benzotriazolylalkyl)carbamate 2 (itself easily available from the condensation of benzotriazole, an aldehyde, and an alkyl carbamate) with an excess of 2-methylthiophene or 2-methylfuran. When methyl N-(alpha-benzotriazolylalkyl)carbamate 2a is treated with 1 equiv of a heterocycle, the benzo-triazolylalkyl-substituted heterocycle is formed. These intermediates react further with other heterocycles to give unsymmetrical 1, 1-bis(heteroaryl)alkanes in good yields under mild conditions.