Design and preparation of four-component eutectogels as a green and efficient catalyst for the one-pot multi-component synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted and 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazole derivatives under solvent-free conditions†

In the past few years, there has been a prominent surge in the exploration of the synthesis of imidazole derivatives in synthetic organic chemistry. This growing interest arises from the wide range of potential applications offered by these compounds across various fields, encompassing industrial chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and medicinal chemistry. This study demonstrates an innovative synthesis of four-component eutectogels (ETGs), in particular ETG-Zr⁴⁺, for the production of imidazole derivatives. The ETG-Zr⁴⁺ catalyst was characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, TGA, and XRD, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable catalyst for the synthesis of poly-functionalized imidazole derivatives. The application of ETG-Zr⁴⁺ as a catalyst afforded 1,2,4,5-tetraphenyl-1H-imidazole derivatives in 70–92% yields and 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazole derivatives in 61–76% yields. Notably, the catalyst exhibits the advantage of reusability and promotes eco-friendly approaches via a one-pot, multi-component reaction pathway.