Research Progress in Chemical Synthesis and Biosynthesis of Bioactive Imidazole Alkaloids

: The imidazole ring is a five membered ring with a simple chemical structure and is widely present in natural products. Due to its unique chemical structure, it is beneficial for the imidazole ring to bind with other functional groups, thus exhibiting a wide range of biological activities. The synthesis of imidazole derivatives often involves the Debus method, Michael addition method, and the use of existing materials to synthesize target compounds through one-pot synthesis. Imidazole compounds have numerous medicinal properties and physiological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, hypoglycemic, antiviral, antihypertensive and anticancer effects. In addition to its medicinal chemical significance, imidazole also has industrial applications such as corrosion inhibitors, flame retardants, photography, and electronics. The synthesis and activity research of imidazole and its derivatives have good development prospects. This article reviews the chemical synthesis and biosynthesis of imidazole derivatives, as well as their biological activities.