The use of Cu-Y Zeolite as efficient catalyst for the synthesis of Schiff bases containing benzimidazole moiety and facile conversion to some novel related oxaziridines

Oxaziridine is interest because of an inherently weak N–O bond due to the strained ring that makes the molecule unusually highly reactive. These heterocycles have been shown to be promising reagents with potent anti-tumour, anti-malarial, and antifungal activities, and as effective analogues for penicillin. They are also widely used as reagents and intermediates in the preparation of biologically active molecules[1,2].Thecompoundscontaining a benzimidazole moiety attached to a heterocyclic system are important chemical classes as a result of their significant biological activities against several viruses such as HIV,herpes(HSV-1), influenza, and Epstein-Barr. Moreover, benzimidazole derivatives have been studied as anticancer and antiproliferativechemicals[3,4].Schiff bases derived from aromatic amines and aromatic aldehydes are also a very important class oforganic compounds because of their applications in many fields including biological,inorganic, andanalytical chemistry. Several synthetic methods have beenreported for thesynthesis of Schiff bases. However, most of them have limitations including longreactiontimes, need for a special catalyst, low yields, and extensive recrystallization.Cu-Y Zeoliteis easily prepared, stable for months, conveniently recovered by filtration and recyclable. It can be used in safe solvents and even without solvent, and thus fully comply with the Green Chemistry. In view of this report and also due to our attention in the synthesis of Schiff bases, we studied a simple and efficient synthetic method for the preparation of Schiff bases containing benzimidazolemoiety in the presence of Cu-Y zeolite as heterogeneous catalyst.In continuation,a novel series of 2- (1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-3-aryl-1,2-oxaziridines were synthesized from the related Schiff basesby a simple method at room temperature and with good to excellent yields (Figure 1).