Imidazole is a planar, five-membered, unsaturated, 6π electron ring system, comprised of three carbon atoms  and two nitrogen atoms at 1,3-positions with two olefinic bonds. One of the nitrogen atoms, N1 , attached to hydrogen is a pyrrole type, while N3  is a pyridine type. The delocalized lone pair of electrons of N1  nitrogen participates  in the π sextet and is less basic than pyridine nitrogen, which contributes only one electron to the aromaticity  leaving a lone pair in the sp2  hybrid orbital, responsible for its basic characteristic. The presence of N3  (pyridine  type) in the ring lowers the energy level of π orbitals as evident from its ionization potential, which is higher than  pyrrole, thiophene, and furan. At the same time, the negative inductive effect of nitrogen provides stabilization  to a negatively charged reaction intermediate (nucleophile). The π electrons of the ring system are delocalized although electron density is concentrated on both the nitrogen atoms and characterized as π-excessive heterocycles.  The presence of a lone pair of electrons on N3  is responsible for easy protonation in strong acid, an indication of a  strong base. The formation of imidazolide in a strong base is also an indication of strong acid. Thus imidazole is  amphoteric in nature. 

Physical Properties

It is a hygroscopic white crystalline solid with an ammonia-like odor, an mp of 88–91°C, and a bp of 256°C. It has  amphoteric properties, a density of 1.0303 gm/mL, a viscosity of 2.696, and a flash point of 145°C. It is soluble in  benzene, ether, acetone, petroleum ether, chloroform, pyridine, and water. 

UV (ethanol) λnm (ε): 207 (3.70). 

1H NMR (CDCl3 ), δ (ppm): C2 –H, 7.73; C4 –H, 7.14; C5 –H, 7.14. 

13C NMR (CDCl3 ), δ (ppm): C2 , 135.4; C4 , 121.9; C5 , 121.9.

The calculated ionization energy of imidazole is 8.78 eV, while its dipole moment is 3.70 D in the gas phase. The  resonance energy of imidazole is 14.2 kcal/mol. The bond length is in angstroms, the bond angle is in degrees, and  electron density distribution around the ring is depicted in the following diagram.

As evident from the calculated bond angle, N1C2N3  (111.3 degrees) is largest, while the angle at C2-N3-C4  (105.4  degrees) is smallest. The bond length between C4N3  (1.38 ?) is largest, while C2-N3  (1.33 ?) is smallest. The C4-C5 (1.36 ?) bond length is a little longer than the normal C-C bond length. 

The electron density map reveals that electron density at N1  and N3  is 1.503, while at C4  and C5  it is 1.056. Thus  the C4 - and C5 -positions are equally vulnerable to electrophiles, while site C2  (0.884) is prone to nucleophilic attack  because its electron density is lowest. 

Imidazole without substitution at nitrogen also exists in two possible tautomeric forms A and B and is in rapid  equilibrium. Thus the task of separation of the tautomers becomes very difficult.

As evident from the calculated bond angle, N1-C2-N3  (111.3 degrees) is largest, while the angle at C2-N3-C4  (105.4  degrees) is smallest. The bond length between C4-N3  (1.38 ?) is largest, while C2-N3  (1.33 ?) is smallest. The C4-C5 (1.36 ?) bond length is a little longer than the normal C-C bond length. The electron density map reveals that electron density at N1  and N3  is 1.503, while at C4  and C5  it is 1.056. Thus  the C4 - and C5 -positions are equally vulnerable to electrophiles, while site C2  (0.884) is prone to nucleophilic attack  because its electron density is lowest.

Imidazole without substitution at nitrogen also exists in two possible tautomeric forms A and B and is in rapid  equilibrium. Thus the task of separation of the tautomers becomes very difficult.

The tautomeric equilibrium under specific conditions can be shifted mainly toward one of the two forms.  Introduction of electron-withdrawing substituents predominantly favors the 4-substituted tautomer. In neutral  organic solvents, equilibrium is attained by an intermolecular process, involving two or more imidazole moieties  through hydrogen bonding. Imidazole is a good donor and acceptor of hydrogen bonds. The pyridine-like nitrogen  (N3 ) is an electron donor, while the pyrrole type of nitrogen (N1 ) is an acceptor.

The imidazole ring is present in various natural products in isolated form such as histamine and histadine, a natural amino acid. It is also present as a substructure in fused ring systems such as caffeine and biotin.

Natural Products of the Imidazol Ring System

Imidazoles either in isolated form or as a substructure in fused ring systems are of high therapeutic importance  and numerous drugs are in clinical use for the treatment of various ailments. Some of the important clinically used  drugs are mentioned in the following diagram.

Synthesis

(a) The synthesis of imidazole was first reported in 1858 from the condensation of glyoxal and ammonia in  low yields due to side product formation.

(b) An imidazole derivative has also been obtained by the reaction of glyoxal, formaldehyde, and hydroxylamine in methanol at 0°C.

A most general method for the synthesis of parent, mono-, di-, and trisubstituted imidazoles has been reported  by Radziszewski through the condensation of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds such as glyoxal, α-ketoaldehyde, and  α-ketoketone with aldehyde in the presence of ammonia-H2 O or NH4 Ac-AcOH.

Imidazole derivatives have also been prepared through modified Radziszewski reaction by heating α- hydroxyketone or an α-haloketone with formamide. This method provides a route for the construction of 4- and  4,5-disubstituted imidazoles.

Another classical route reported by Wallach for the construction of imidazoles is through cyclization of N,N′- disubstituted oxamides with PCl5  to deliver 1-substituted 5-chloroimidazoles.

Chemical Reactivity 

Imidazole is a π-excessive heterocycle and undergoes electrophilic substitution reactions smoothly. With  some manipulation in substitution pattern in the imidazole ring, nucleophilic substitution is also facilitated.  The presence of a pyridine-like nitrogen (N3 ) has a lone pair of electrons, responsible for electrophilic substitution at N3 . The other nitrogen (N1 ) is a pyrrole type and its lone pair of electrons involved in the aromatic  sextet facilitates electrophilic substitution at carbon atoms C4  and C5  because of higher electron density compared to C2.