Microwave-assisted regioselective synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted imidazoles: Nortopsentin D synthesized by minimal effort

A two step regioselective synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted imidazoles based o n the reaction of alpha -azidoacetyl indoles with carboxylic acids in the p resence of tertiary phosphines followed by cyclization of the resulting ket oamides by the action of ammonium acetate under microwave irradiation is de scribed. The method has successfully been applied to the synthesis of the a ntifungal nortopsentin D [2,4-bis(3-indolyl)imidazole].