Synthetic Analogue of Stilbene Containing an Imidazole Nucleus

Synthesis of trans-1,2-bis(4-nitro-1-p-methoxybenzylimidazol-5-yl)ethene (1) as an imidazole analogue of stilbene has been reported. In order to confirm the trans geometry of the product using an UV spectral comparison, a mixture of both trans (1) and cis isomer (3) was also prepared. The synthesis involved one-step dimerization of the precursor, 4-nitro-1-p-methoxybenzyl-5-methyl-1H-imidazole (2), using N-chlorosuccinimide catalyzed by potassium t-butoxide.