Microwave-promoted reaction of N-(alk-1-enyl)chloroacetamides with sodium azide unexpectedly yields 1H-imidazol-5(4H)-ones

A novel method to prepare biologically relevant 1H-imidazol-5(4H)-ones from aliphatic amines, isobutyraldehyde, chloroacetyl chloride and sodium azide under microwave irradiation has been developed.