A Facile Protocol for Synthesis of Some Novel 2-phenethyl-1H-benzimidazole Derivatives and Screening of In-Vitro Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activities

: A convenient and efficient method for the preparation of some novel 2-phenethyl-1 H benzimidazole derivatives (4a-h) has been achieved by the condensation of phenyl propionic acids (2a-h) with o -phenylenediamine (3) in POCl 3 . The advantages of this method is excellent yields, short reaction time, no side reaction and operational simplicity and ease product isolation The structure of all the synthesized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, 1 H NMR and MS data. Furthermore, compounds (4a-h) were screened for their antibacterial activity against gram negative ( E. coli ) and gram positive ( B.subtilis ) bacteria, antifungal activity against Aspergillusniger and Penicillium chrysogenum and anti-inflammatory activities. Some of the compounds exhibited promising antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities.