A convenient synthesis of benzannelated diazacycloalkanes by reductive cleavage of 1,2-polymethylenebenzimidazoles

A facile procedure for the synthesis of benzannelated diazacycloalkanes 3 is elaborated on the basis of reductive cleavage of 1,2-polymethylenebenzimidazoles 2 with DIBAL-H. The reduction of the corresponding salts prepared by treatment of 1,2-polymethylenebenzimidazoles 2 with methyl iodide proceeded differently affording exclusively o-phenylenediamines 10. The limitations and scope of the method were established, and a tentative mechanism proposed.