Ethyl 2-{[2-(3-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl]sulfanyl}acetate:: synthesis via a microwave-mediated combinatorial chemistry approach

The orange title compound, C19H17N3O4S, can be synthesized either via microwave-mediated combinatorial chemistry strategies or conventional synthetic procedures. The phenyl and meta-nitrophenyl C-6 rings are essentially coplanar with the central imidazolyl ring, with interplanar angles of 0.87 (5) and 0.97 (4)degrees, respectively, resulting in optimum conjugation (SCH2 moiety included); lambda(max) = 281 nm in CH3CN. The principal intermolecular interactions are N-imid-H...O-nitro and N-imid-H...O==C [N...O = 3.058 (2) and 3.432 (3) Angstrom, and N-H...O = 128 and 153degrees, respectively]. The closest H...S distance is an intramolecular C-H...S contact, with H...S = 2.54 Angstrom and C-H...S = 136degrees.