Iodobenzene catalyzed C-H amination of N-substituted amidines using m-chloroperbenzoic acid.

The oxidative C-H amination of N"-aryl-N'-tosyl/N'-methylsulfonylamidines and N,N'-bis(aryl)amidines has been accomplished using iodobenzene as a catalyst to furnish 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles in the presence of mCPBA as a terminal oxidant at room temperature. The reaction is general, and the target products can be obtained in moderate to high yields.