An efficient synthesis of 2-arylimidazoles by oxidation of 2-arylimidazolines using activated carbon–O2 system and its application to palladium-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck reaction

Oxidative conversion of 2-substituted imidazoline (dihydroimidazole) to the corresponding imidazole was achieved by an activated carbon–O2 system. Also, the 2-arylimidazolines and 2-arylimidazoles have been found to work as simple ligands in the palladium-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck reaction.