Iron(III)/Iodine‐Catalyzed C(sp2)—H Activation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes/Ketones with Amidines: Synthesis of 1,2,4,5‐Tetrasubstituted Imidazoles.

An efficient methodology to access a library of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from a broad range of amidines and ,β-unsaturated aldehydes/ketones via a C( sp 2 ) H amination has been developed. This method represents a new and simple way to prepare highly substituted imidazoles from easily available starting materials, inexpensive catalysts, and with good functional group tolerance in good to excellent yields.