ACETATE/ACETIC ACID-ASSISTED ONE-POT SYNTHESIS OF (DIARYLMETHYLENE)IMIDAZOLONE FROM AMIDE OR THIOAMIDE

With the aim of extending the library of green fluorescent protein chromophore analogs, a facile one-pot synthesis of 5-(diarylmethylene)imidazolones from the corresponding amide or thioamide is described. Isolation of unstable imidate intermediates is not required, thereby circumventing the drawback of previous approaches. A reaction mechanism in which both acetate and acetic acid promote the imidazolone formation is proposed.