Ruthenium-catalyzed C3 Alkylation of the Furan/Thiophene Ring in 2-(Furan-2-carbonyl)/(Thiophene-2-carbonyl)-1-methylimidazoles with Acrylic Acid Derivatives

A method for the synthesis of 3-alkyl-2-(furan-2-carbonyl)/(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-1-methylimidazoles by the ruthenium-catalyzed selective C3 alkylation of the furan or thiophene ring in 2-(furan-2-carbonyl)/(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-1-methylimidazoles with acrylic acid esters, amides, or nitrile has been developed. The resulting compounds may be of interest as polyfunctional reagents for preparing 3-(2-carboxyethyl)furan/thiophene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives.