Plant Extract-Assisted Green Synthesis of 2-Arylimidazo [1,2-A] Pyridine and Benzimidazole Derivatives

A green and efficient method for the synthesis of 2-arylimidazo [1, 2-a] pyridine (3) and benzimidazole (8) derivatives has been developed using plant extracts. The different plant part extracts of Terminalia chebula, Punica granatum, and Aegle marmelos have been studied. The aqueous fruit extract of Terminalia chebula gave better results. The synthetic method has been optimized with respect to plant extract quantity, pH of the reaction, and yield. The developed protocol showed several advantages like mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, high yield, and reduced environmental impact.