2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole

In the title compound, C20H16N2O, the 1H-benzimidazole ring forms dihedral angles of 48.00 (6) and 64.48 (6)°, respectively with the benzene and phenyl rings, which are inclined to one another by 58.51 (7)°. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯π interactions are the only intermolecular interactions present.

In the title compound, C 20 H 16 N 2 O, the 1H-benzimidazole ring forms dihedral angles of 48.00 (6) and 64.48 (6) , respectively with the benzene and phenyl rings, which are inclined to one another by 58.51 (7) . In the crystal, weak C-HÁ Á Á interactions are the only intermolecular interactions present.
They have emerged as potent non nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (Roth et al.,1997, Morningstar et al.,2007 It also acts as a specific inhibitors of the NS5B polymerase of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) (Beaulieu, et al., 2004).

Experimental
To pure N-phenyl-0-phenylenediamine(17 mmol,3.128 g) in ethanol(10 ml), 4-methoxy benzaldehyde(17 mmol,2.1 ml) and ammonium acetate(3 g) was added for about 1 h while maintaining the temperature at 80°C. The reaction mixture was refluxed and the completion of reaction was monitored by TLC, finally the reactants extracted with dichloromethane.
The solid separated was purified by column chromatography using petroleum ether as the eluent.Yield:2.65 g(50%) from which it was crystallized.

Refinement
All the hydrogen atoms were geometrically fixed and allowed to ride on their parent atoms with C-H = 0.93 -0.97 Å, and U iso (H) = 1.2Ueq(C).