Synthesis of new bridged biimidazoles by an acylation–dimerization sequence

N-Methylimidazole reacts with bis-imidoylchlorides derived from oxalic acid and yields new bis-cationic tricyclic systems of type of diimidazo[1,2-a:2′,1′-c]pyrazines. Under identical conditions, 1,2-dimethylimidazole has been transformed into pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazoles. 2,2′-Biimidazole itself can be cyclized with bis-imidoylchlorides thus yielding a new heterotricycle, which possesses two different 1,4-diaza-1,3-diene substructures.