One‐Pot Preparation of Aromatic Amides, 4‐Arylthiazoles, and 4‐Arylimidazoles from Arenes.

Simple treatment of arenes with α‐bromoacetyl chloride and AlCl3, followed by the reaction with molecular iodine and aq. NH3, thioamides, or amidines gave the corresponding primary aromatic amides, 4‐arylthiazoles, or 4‐arylimidazoles in good yields, respectively. Aryl α‐bromomethyl ketones are the key intermediates in those reactions. Primary aromatic amides were formed from arenes through the reaction of aryl α‐bromomethyl ketones with molecular iodine and aq. NH3, and 4‐arylthiazoles and 4‐arylimidazoles were formed from arenes through the reactions of aryl α‐bromomethyl ketones with thioamides and amidines, respectively, in one pot under transition‐metal‐free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]