Process for producing 2-substituted 5-chlorimidazoles

A process for the production of a 2-substituted 5-chlorimidazole of formula:

• ##STR11## wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, benzyl or aryl and R.sub.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, benzyl or aryl, or is --CO.sub.2 R.sub.3 or --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CO.sub.2 R.sub.3, wherein n is a number between 1 and 4 and R.sub.3 is alkyl, comprising reacting, in a first stage, a clycine ester hydrohalide of formula:
• ##STR12## wherein R.sub.1 has the above-mentioned meaning, R.sub.2 is alkyl and X is halogen, with an amidic acid ester of formula:
• ##STR13## wherein R has the above-mentioned meaning and R.sub.4 is alkyl, in the presence of a base to the corresponding 3,5-dihydroimidazole-4-one of formula:
• ##STR14## wherein R and R.sub.1 have the above-mentioned meanings, and, in a second stage, chlorinating the corresponding 3,5-dihydroimidazol-4-one of formula V to the 2-substituted 5-chlorimidazole of formula I.