Abstract The applicability of boric acid catalysis for the direct condensation of carboxylic acids with benzene-1, 2-diamine to give 2-substituted benzimidazoles was investigated. It was found that catalytic amounts (5–10 mol-%) of boric acid efficiently promote the cyclocondensation of aliphatic carboxylic acids in refluxing toluene. In addition, the relatively neutral conditions allow the use of acid-sensitive substrates and give rise to specific ...