Pd‐catalyzed oxidative coupling of 2‐aroylimidazoles with benzyl alcohols: Access to imidazole functionalized phthalazines and phthalazin‐1(2 H )‐ones

The palladium‐catalyzed direct oxidative coupling reaction between 2‐aroylimidazoles with aromatic aldehydes or benzyl alcohols under oxidation conditions has been achieved to furnish a variety of carbonyl functionalized 2‐aroylimidazoles in moderate to good yields. The obtained products could be selectively transformed to the corresponding phthalazines and phthalazin‐1(2 H )‐ones with hydrazine hydrate as the cyclization partner under different reaction temperature and construct an array of structurally diverse nitrogen‐containing heterocycles.