An efficient liquid-phase synthesis of substituted benzimidazolones 7 is de
scribed. Resin bound o-fluoronitrobenzene 1 is reacted with various primary
amines to afford o-nitroaniline derivatives 2. Subsequent reduction of the
aromatic nitro group followed by cyclization gives a PEG bound benzimidazo
le-2-one 4. N-Alkylation of this resin bound scaffold 4 with several electr
ophiles gives the resulting library in excellent yield and purity after cle
avage. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.