An ionic liquid mediated one-pot synthesis of substituted thiazolidinones and benzimidazoles

An expeditious one-pot synthesis of 2,3-diaryl/2-aryl-3-heteroaryl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones and 1-aryl-1H,3H-thiazolo[3,4-a]benzimidazoles have been accomplished by condensing hetero/aromatic amine, 2-mercaptoacetic acid, aromatic aldehyde and 1,2-phenylenediamine, 2-mercaptoacetic acid and aromatic aldehyde, respectively, in ionic liquids, viz, 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-methoxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate.