Unlocking the imidazole ring: A comprehensive review of synthetic strategies

Imidazole, a five-membered heterocyclic compound, has multipurpose applications for its bioactivity, uses in charge transport materials, and NLO materials. The review provides a comprehensive survey of the synthetic strategies of imidazole from various starting materials, highlighting their percentage yield and mechanistic insights. The most popular starting materials for the syntheses of imidazole include diketones, cyanides, imines, amidines, imidamides, di-amines, and oximes. Although the selection of a particular synthetic strategy will depend largely on the desired imidazole derivative, the survey consists of more than a century of research on imidazole synthetic procedures, starting with Heinrich Debus synthesis in 1858 till the present day. Most recent advancements and future perspectives in the field have been explored. The study will help researchers choose the most suitable starting material, catalyst, solvent, or reaction conditions for the synthesis of various imidazole derivatives.