Samarium diiodide promoted formation of 1,2-diketones and 1-acylamido-2-substituted benzimidazoles from N-acylbenzotriazoles

N-Acylbenzotriazoles, when treated with samarium diiodide in THF, undergo self-coupling reaction to afford 1,2-diketones in good to excellent yields; while when treated with samarium diiodide in CH3CN, they undergo ring-opening reaction to afford 1-acylamido-2-alkyl (or aryl) benzimidazoles in reasonable to good yields. A plausible mechanism was suggested.