Vinylpyridines were utilized for protection of the benzimidazole NH bond to give 1-(2- pyridylethyl)-benzimidazoles. The reaction was found to progress smoothly when glacial acetic acid was used as a catalyst. In the alkylation of 5-or 7-substituted-2- arylbenzimidazoles with vinylpyridines, the yield decreased with increasing electronattracting effect of the substituent groups in the benzimidazole ring. On the other ...