A simple and efficient synthesis of 2,4,5-triarylimidazoles and 2-arylphenanthrimidazoles was developed using the one-pot, three-component condensation reaction of an aromatic aldehyde, benzil or 9,10-phenanthroquinone and ammonium acetate in refluxing ethanol in the presence of the catalyst sulfamic acid.
A series of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles and 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles catalyzed by ZrO2-supported-β-cyclodextrin (ZrO2-β-CD) under solvent free conditions have been synthesized and characterized by spectral methods.