Preparation of N-substituted imidazoles

Abstract

A process for preparing N-substituted imidazoles of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkynyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 -alkenyloxyalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.20 -cycloalkylalkyl, or C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -arylalkyl or aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkoxy or phenoxy, R.sup.2, and R.sup.4 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkyl, halogen, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -arylalkyl or aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkoxy or phenoxy, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together form (CH.sub.2).sub.n or (CH=CH).sub.m which is unsubstituted or mono- or disubstituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy and/or halogen and in which n is from 1 to 6 and m is from 1 to 3, by reacting imidazoles of the formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 have the abovementioned meanings, with halides of the formula III R.sup.1 --X (III), where X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, and R.sup.1 has the abovementioned meanings, in aqueous hydroxide solutions at from 0.degree. to 100.degree. C., wherein the reaction is carried out from the beginning of the reaction in the presence of from 0.1 to 50 mol % of any N-substituted imidazole as a catalyst based on the imidazole reactant II.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.