An electrochemical dehydrogenative [2 + 2 + 1] annulation used for the synthesis of imidazoles has been developed under undivided electrolytic conditions.
A one-pot, four-component synthesis of 1,2,4-trisubstituted 1H-imidazoles is described. Heating a mixture of a 2-bromoacetophenone, an aldehyde, a primary amine, and ammonium acetate under solvent-free conditions affords functionalized imidazoles in good to excellent yields.