G.S. Jagadeesha^1,, N.R. Thimmegowda^1,*,, K. Mantelingu^2,, D.S. Prasanna^3, and K.S. Rangappa^4,

¹Department of Chemistry, Government S.K.S.J. Technological Institute (Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Karnataka), K.R. Circle, Bangalore-560001, India

²Department of Studies in Chemistry, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru-570006, India

³Department of Applied Sciences, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Center for Postgraduate Studies, Bengaluru Region, Muddenahalli, Chikkaballapur District-562101, India

⁴Institution of Excellence, University of Mysore, Mysore-570006, India

*Corresponding author: E-mail: nrthimmegowda@gmail.com

A novel microwave assisted protocol for the rapid synthesis of methyl 1-benzyl-2-(4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate (TJ08) with potent antileukemic activity has been developed with excellent yields in 31 min of reaction time over 5 steps, whereas the conventional heating method required around 17 h. In this method, n-propanephosphonic acid anhydride (T3P) was used as a coupling reagent for amidation, during this reaction the in situ generated byproduct n-propylphosphonic acid subsequently catalyzes the cyclization reaction to form benzimidazole ring and hence this novel protocol affords to synthesize the novel benzimidazole derivatives expeditiously to develop new druggable compounds.

Benzimidazole derivative, T3P, Anticancer agent, Antileukemic activity.