Novel synthesis of divergent aryl imidazoles from ketones involving copper-catalyzed α-amination and oxidative C–C bond cleavage

A one-pot synthesis, initiated by a copper salt with inorganic (NH4)2CO3 as the nitrogen source, forms divergent aryl imidazole derivatives from ketones via α-amination and oxidative C–C bond cleavage reactions. The approach provides a simple and rapid synthesis of imidazole derivatives and has certain versatility.