A series of 2‐substituted benzimidazoles, benzoxazoles were synthesized by the condensation reactions of 1‐aryl‐4‐carboxy‐2‐pyrrolidinones and aromatic ortho‐diamines or ortho‐aminophenol. Alkylation of benzimidazoles with iodoalkanes led to 1‐aryl‐4‐(1‐alkyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)‐2‐pyrrolidin‐ ones or 1,3‐dialkylbenzimidazolium iodides. N‐Subs‐ tituted γ‐amino acids were prepared by the hydrolysis of 1‐aryl‐4‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)‐2‐pyrrolidinones in sodium hydroxide solution, followed by treatment with acetic acid. The structure of the synthesized pro‐ ducts was investigated using IR and 1H, 13C NMR spectra, MM2 molecular mechanics, and AM1 semi‐ empirical quantum mechanical methods. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 17:47–56, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20171