<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: \'Times New Roman\',\'serif\';\">Benzimidazoles are present in various bioactive compounds possessing antiviral and anti hypertensive properties. Compounds containing benzimidazole moiety have many pharmacological properties and play an important role in biochemical processes. In this proposed work we have used benzaldehyde and o-phenylene diamine as the model substrate using hetropolysaccharide, pectin as a catalyst and water as a solvent. Reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for half an hour. The generality and scope of the protocol was determined by synthesizing derivatives of benzimidazole in good to excellent yields. In conclusion, we have developed a simple, versatile, environmentally benign, highly efficient and green method for the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives by two component cyclocondensation of aldehydes and o-phenylene diamine using pectin as a catalyst and water as a solvent. The formation of compounds was confirmed by NMR and IR analysis.</span></p>
<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: \'Times New Roman\',\'serif\';\">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: \'Times New Roman\',\'serif\';\">Key words: </span></strong><span style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: \'Times New Roman\',\'serif\';\">&nbsp;&nbsp;hetropolysaccharide, pectin, Cyclocondensation, green method, benzimidazole. </span></p>
 
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