Reactions of 1-methylbenzimidazole derivatives with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid

Oxidation of seven 1-methylbenzimidazole (MBI) derivatives (with pKaʹs ranging from 1.6 to 6.0) was carried out with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and structures of the products formed were identified. (Condensed benzene moiety-hydroxylated)-2-(m-chlorobenzyloxy)-MBIs and 2-oxo-MBIs were obtained from MBIs with pKaʹs of more than 5.6 and about 3.3, respectively.