A series of 2-substituted-4,5-diphenyl
imidazoles 1a-j were synthesized by refluxing
benzil with different substituted
aldehydes in the presence of
ammonium acetate and
glacial acetic acid. Structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed on the basis of IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral data. Compounds 1a-j were screened for
anthelmintic activity. Test results revealed that compounds showed
paralysis time of 0.24 to 1.54 min and death time of 0.39 to 4.40 min while the standard drugs
albendazole and
piperazine citrate showed
paralysis time of 0.54 and 0.58 min and death time of 2.16 and 2.47 min, respectively, at the same concentration of 1% (m/V). Five compounds, 2-[2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,5-
diphenyl imidazole (1b), 2-[3-methoxyphenyl]-4,5-
diphenyl imidazole (1c), 2-[2-phenylethenyl]-4,5-
diphenyl imidazole (1e), 2-[4-fluorophenyl]-4,5-
diphenyl imidazole (1g) and 2-[3-nitrophenyl]-4,5-
diphenyl imidazole (1h) showed significant
anthelmintic activity compared to the standard drugs.