Abstract Oxidation of 5-(1-methyl-1 H-benzimidazol-2-yl) thiophene-, and-selenophene-2- carbaldehydes with potassium dichromate in 20% aqueous sulfuric acid afforded the corresponding carboxylic acids. Analogous reaction with 5-(1-methyl-1 H-benzimidazol-2-yl) furan-2-carbaldehyde led to the formation of 1-methyl-1 H-benzimidazole as a result of decarboxylation of the primary oxidation product and subsequent decomposition of the ...