Synthesis of 1-halophenyl 4-(2-imidazolyl)-1-butanones and 5-(2-imidazolyl)-1-pentanones and their ketalization with glycerol

An alternate synthesis of 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-(2-imidazolyl)-1-butanones 5d is presented after 1-[(dimethylamino)methyl- and l-methyl]-2-lithioimidazole failed to be substituted satisfactorily by 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(3-iodopropyl)-1,3-dioxolane (3b). The Pinner addition of ethanol to 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(3-cyanopropyl)-1,3-dioxolane yielded the corresponding imidate which was reacted with 1-amino-2,2-dimethoxyethane to form an amidine. Hot dilute hydrochloric acid converted this amidine to the 2-imidazolyl ketone 5b. Syntheses of homologous 1-(4-chloro- and 2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-(2-imidazolyl)-1-pentanones 20 are described. Ketalizations of 5 and 20 with glycerol formed imidazolyl 1,3-dioxolanyl alcohols. Selective N- and O-alkylations of some of these imidazolyl alcohols are described.