Synthesis of Novel Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐2‐amines from Arylamines and Nitriles via Sequential Addition and I2/KI‐Mediated Oxidative Cyclization

A novel and practical strategy for the construction of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐2‐amine frameworks has been developed. The present sequential approach involves addition of arylamines to nitriles and I₂/KI‐mediated oxidative C?N bond formation without purification of the intermediate amidines. This operationally simple synthetic process provides a facile access to a variety of new 2‐amino substituted imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines and related heterocyclic compounds in an efficient and scalable fashion.     

Convenient Synthesis of Alkenyl‐, Alkynyl‐, and Allenyl‐Substituted Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines via Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions

A systematic study on the Stille and Sonogashira cross‐coupling of iodinated imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines was performed, permitting the preparation of various vinyl‐, ethynyl‐, and allenyl‐substituted derivatives. These methods are particularly valuable, given their experimental simplicity and high degree of flexibility with regard to functional groups that can be introduced in positions 3, 6, or 8 of the imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine core. Effects concerning different substitution positions and the nature of the 2‐substituent under various reaction conditions are reported in detail for the above types of unsaturated groups introduced.     

Comparative Study on the Reactivity of 6‐Haloimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Derivatives towards Negishi‐ and Stille‐Coupling Reactions

The scope of the Suzuki‐cross‐coupling reaction of 6‐haloimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines is dependent on the availability of the (hetero)arylboronic acids. Thus, with the aim to develop expanded applications of (hetero)arylations of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines, we investigated the Negishi‐ and Stille‐cross‐coupling reactions at the 6‐position. Remarkably, attempts to apply the Negishi‐cross‐coupling conditions to the organozinc derivative prepared from 6‐haloimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine via a lithium? zinc exchange led to the 5‐phenyl compound 3 in 54% yield instead of the desired 6‐phenyl isomer (Scheme 1). In contrast, various commercially available halogenated five‐ or six‐membered‐ring heterocycles were efficiently coupled to the 6‐(trialkylstannyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine under Stille conditions (Table 2).     

Vertically π‐Expanded Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine: The Missing Link of the Puzzle

The dehydrogenative coupling of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivative has been achieved for the first time. In cases in which the most‐electron‐rich position of the electron‐excessive heterocycle was blocked by a naphthalen‐1‐yl substituent, neither oxidative aromatic coupling nor reaction under Scholl conditions enabled the fusion of the rings. The only method that converted the substrate into the corresponding imidazo[5,1,2‐de]naphtho[1,8‐ab]quinolizine was coupling in the presence of potassium in anhydrous toluene. Moreover, we discovered new, excellent conditions for this anion‐radical coupling reaction, which employed dry O₂ from the start in the reaction mixture. This method afforded vertically fused imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine in 63 % yield. Interestingly, whereas the fluorescence quantum yield (Φ_fl) of compound 3 , despite the freedom of rotation, was close to 50 %, the Φ_fl value of flat naphthalene‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine was only 5 %. Detailed analysis of this compound by using DFT calculations and a low‐temperature Shpol′skii matrix revealed phosphorescence emission, thus indicating that efficient intersystem‐crossing from the lowest‐excited S₁ level to the triplet manifold was the competing process with fluorescence.     

A convenient synthesis of novel pyrido(1′,2′:1,2)imidazo[5,4‐d]‐1,2,3‐triazinones from imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines

The imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine system was investigated as a synthon for the building of very attractive fused triazines, a planar, angular tri‐heterocycle with potential biological activity. Thus ethyl 3‐nitroimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine‐2‐carboxylate was treated with ammonia or with an excess of primary amines to generate the corresponding substituted nitro carboxamidoimidazopyridines. The nitro substituent in the latter products, was reduced to yield 3‐amino‐2‐carboxamidoimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivatives, which in turn were treated with nitrous acid to furnish 1‐oxo‐2‐substituted pyrido(1′,2′:1,2)imidazo[5,4‐d]‐1,2,3‐triazines.     

Synthesis of 1R‐1H‐Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐4‐ium‐8‐olate Derivatives

A new method based on reaction of 4‐bromobut‐2‐enoates with N‐alkylimidazoles was proposed for obtaining 1R‐1H‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐4‐ium‐8‐olate and 1‐R‐8‐methoxy‐1H‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐4‐ium derivatives. The structures of synthesized compounds were confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, and X‐ray data.     

Synthesis of 2‐imino‐7‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐a]‐pyrimidin‐5(1H)‐ones and their reactions with nucleophiles

[2‐Alkylthio‐6‐methyl‐4‐oxopyrimidin‐3(4H)‐yl]acetonitriles ( 3‐5 ) treated with sodium methoxide in methanol followed by ammonium chloride were cyclized to 2‐imino‐7‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐a]‐pyrimidin‐5(1H)‐ones ( 6‐8 ). Under acid or base‐catalyzed hydrolysis they were converted to 7‐methyl‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine‐2,5‐[1H,3H]‐diones ( 9‐11 ), whereas in the reaction with butyl‐ or benzylamine the corresponding 7‐methyl‐2‐(substitutedamino)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidin‐5(3H)‐ones ( 13‐18 ) were produced. The latter were found to exist in two tautomeric forms in CDCl₃ solution.     

Strategies for Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Derivatives: Carbene Transformations or C−H Functionalizations

The imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines are an important target in organic synthetic chemistry and have attracted critical attention of chemists mainly due to the discovery of the interesting properties exhibited by a great number of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivatives. Although lots of synthetic methods of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines have been developed in the past years, the chemistry community faces continuing challenges to use green reagents, maximize atom economy and enrich the functional group diversity of product. Undoubtedly, with its low cost and lack of environmentally hazardous byproducts, cascade reactions and C?H functionalizations are ideal strategies for this field. In this record we highlight some of our progress toward the goal to synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivatives through carbene transformations or C?H functionalizations.     

Regioselective,Unconventional Pictet–Spengler Cyclization Strategy Toward the Synthesis of Benzimidazole‐Linked Imidazoquinoxalines on a Soluble Polymer Support

A novel strategy for an unconventional Pictet–Spengler reaction has been developed for the regioselective cyclization of the imidazole ring system at the C2 position. The developed strategy was utilized to develop a diversity‐oriented parallel synthesis for bis(heterocyclic) skeletal novel analogs of benzimidazole‐linked imidazoquinoxalines on a soluble polymer support under microwave conditions. Condensation of polymer‐immobilized o‐phenylenediamines with 4‐fluoro‐3‐nitrobenzoic acid followed by nucleophilic aromatic substitution with an imidazole motif affords bis(heterocyclic) skeletal precursors for the Pictet–Spengler reaction. The unconventional Pictet–Spengler cyclization with various aldehydes was achieved regioselectively at the C2 position of the imidazole ring to furnish rare imidazole‐fused quinoxaline skeletons. During the Pictet–Spengler cyclization, aldehydes bearing electron‐donating groups afford 4,5‐dihydro‐imidazoquinoxalines, which then auto‐aromatize into benzimidazole‐linked imidazo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines. However, interestingly, aldehydes bearing electron‐withdrawing groups directly provide aromatized imidazo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines, which unexpectedly afford novel benzimidazole‐linked 4‐methoxy‐4,5‐dihydro‐imidazo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines after polymer cleavage.     

Regioselective,Solvent‐ and Metal‐Free Chalcogenation of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines by Employing I2/DMSO as the Catalytic Oxidation System

Highly efficient molecular‐iodine‐catalyzed chalcogenations (S and Se) of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines were achieved by using diorganoyl dichalcogenides under solvent‐free conditions. This approach afforded the desired products that had been chalcogenated regioselectively at the C3 position in up to 96 % yield by using DMSO as an oxidant, in the absence of a metal catalyst, and under an inert atmosphere. This mild, green approach allowed the preparation of different types of chalcogenated imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines with structural diversity. Furthermore, the current protocol was also extended to other N‐heterocyclic cores.     

Fused Heterocycles: Synthesis and Antitubercular Activity of Novel 6‐Substituted‐2‐(4‐methyl‐2‐substituted phenylthiazol‐5‐yl)H‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine

A series of 6‐substituted‐2‐(4‐methyl‐2‐substituted phenylthiazol‐5‐yl)H‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivatives 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i , 4j , 4k , 4l is described. The antitubercular activity of the synthesized compounds was determined against Mycobacterium smegmatis MC² 155 strain. From the activity result, it was found that the phenyl or 4‐fluorophenyl group at 2 position of thiazole nucleus and bromo substituent at 6 position of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine showed good antitubercular activity.     

Iodobenzene‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines from Aryl Ketones with mCPBA in Ionic Liquid

Iodobenzene‐catalyzed synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines from aryl ketones with mCPBA as a cooxidant in ionic liquid is described. The method is simple, rapid and practical, generating Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines from the aryl ketone without isolation of α‐tosyloxyketones in good to excellent yields.     

Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines and Imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles Attached to a Cycloalkyl or Saturated Heterocycle Containing a Tertiary Hydroxy Substitution

A new method has been developed for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines, imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles, and benzo[d]imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles attached to a cycloalkyl or saturated heterocycle containing a tertiary hydroxy substitution. Readily available substituted 2‐aminopyridines, 2‐aminothiazoles, and 2‐aminobenzothiazoles were treated with bromohydroxycycloalkyl ethanones to afford the desired products in good yields.     

Organic Electrosynthesis as a New Facile and Green Method for One‐pot Synthesis of Nanosized Particles of Octahydro‐imidazo[1,2‐a]quinolin‐6‐one Derivatives via a Multicomponent Reaction

Organic electrosynthesis as a new facile and green method was applied for one‐pot synthesis of octahydro‐imidazo[1,2‐a]quinolin‐6‐one derivatives, via a three component condensation of a dimedone, an aldehyde and 2‐(nitromethylene)imidazolidine in propanol in an undivided cell in the presence of sodium bromide as an electrolyte at room temperature. In this study, the anion of dimedone that was produced on the cathode reacted with aromatic aldehydes through the Knoevenagel reaction and then the product condensed with 2‐(nitromethylene)imidazolidine that resulted in a highly efficient formation of octahydro‐imidazo[1,2‐a]quinolin‐6‐one with 50–96% substance yields.     

Synthesis and biological study of some new chalcones and oxopyrimidines containing imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine nucleus

Heterosubstituted chalcones and oxopyrimidines were synthesized by the reaction of 2‐(4‐Chlorophenyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine‐3‐carbaldehyde 1 and different aryl acetophenone in the presence of catalytic amount of 40% alkali to give (2E)‐3‐(2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1‐arylprop‐2‐en‐1‐ones 2a – l . Compounds 2a – l on reaction with urea in the presence of basic catalyst such as KOH to give 6‐(2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐3‐yl)‐4‐aryl pyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones 3a – l . Their IR, ¹H‐NMR, MASS spectral data, and elemental analysis were in accord with assigned structure. All the newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activity. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2012).     

2‐Amino‐8‐(2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐β‐D‐arabinofuranosyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]‐1,3,5‐triazin‐4(8H)‐one: Synthesis and Conformation of a 5‐Aza‐7‐deazaguanine Fluoronucleoside

Nucleobase‐anion glycosylation of 2‐[(2‐methyl‐1‐oxopropyl)amino]imidazo[1,2‐a]‐1,3,5‐triazin‐4(8H)‐one ( 6 ) with 3,5‐di‐O‐benzoyl‐2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐α‐D ‐arabinofuranosyl bromide ( 8 ) furnishes a mixture of the benzoyl‐protected anomeric 2‐amino‐8‐(2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐D ‐arabinofuranosyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]‐1,3,5‐triazin‐4(8H)‐ones 9 / 10 in a ratio of ca. 1 : 1. After deprotection, the inseparable anomeric mixture 3 / 4 was silylated. The obtained 5‐O‐[(1,1‐dimethylethyl)diphenylsilyl] derivatives 11 and 12 were separated and desilylated affording the nucleoside 3 and its α‐D anomer 4 . Similar to 2′‐deoxy‐2′‐fluoroarabinoguanosine, the conformation of the sugar moiety is shifted from S towards N by the fluoro substituent in arabino configuration.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Analogues of the ZSTK474 Class of Phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase Inhibitors

Using a scaffold‐hopping approach, imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine analogues of the ZSTK474 (benzimidazole) class of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitors have been synthesized for biological evaluation. Compounds were prepared using a heteroaryl Heck reaction procedure, involving the palladium‐catalysed coupling of 2‐(difluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines with chloro, iodo or trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy (trifloxy) substituted 1,3,5‐triazines or pyrimidines, with the iodo intermediates being preferred in terms of higher yields and milder reaction conditions. The new compounds maintain the PI3K isoform selectivity of their benzimidazole analogues, but in general show less potency.     

Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines Using Fe3O4@SiO2 as an Efficient Nanomagnetic Catalyst via a One‐Pot Multicomponent Reaction

A one‐pot multicomponent synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivatives by using pyridin‐2‐amines, aldehydes, and terminal alkynes in the presence of a catalytic amount of silica‐supported iron oxide (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂) nanoparticles in refluxing EtOH in good‐to‐excellent yields is reported.     

Synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5‐a]‐, 1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]‐ and imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidines related to zaleplon,a new drug for the treatment of insomnia

This paper describes the preparation of some pyrazolo[1,5‐a]‐, 1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]‐ and imidazo[1,2‐a]‐pyrimidines substituted on the pyrimidine moiety by a 4‐[(N‐acetyl‐N‐ethyl)amino]phenyl group. A new synthesis of related benzo[h]pyrazolo[1,5‐a]‐, benzo[h]pyrazolo[5,1‐b]‐ and benzo[h]1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]‐quinazolines is also reported.     

Highly Emissive Luminogens Based on Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine for Electroluminescent Applications

A search for novel organic luminogens led us to design and synthesize some N‐fused imidazole derivatives based on imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine as the core and arylamine and imidazole as the peripheral groups. The fluorophores were synthesized through a multicomponent cascade reaction (A³ coupling) of a heterocyclic azine with an aldehyde and alkyne, followed by Suzuki coupling and a multicomponent cyclization reaction. All of the compounds exhibited interesting photophysical responses, especially arylamine‐containing derivatives, which displayed strong positive solvatochromism in the emission spectra that indicated a more polar excited state owing to an efficient charge migration from the donor arylamine to the imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine acceptor. The quantum yields ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 and depended on the substitution pattern, most notably that based on the donor group at the C2 position. Moreover, the influence of general and specific solvent effects on the photophysical properties of the fluorophores was discussed with four‐parameter Catalán and Kamlet–Taft solvent scales. The excellent thermal, electrochemical, and morphological stability of the compounds was explored by cyclic voltammetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and AFM methods. Furthermore, to understand the structure, bonding, and band gap of the molecules, DFT calculations were performed. The performance of the electroluminescence behavior of the imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivative was investigated by fabricating a multilayer organic light‐emitting diode with a configuration of ITO/NPB (60 nm)/EML (40 nm)/BCP (15 nm)/Alq₃ (20 nm)/LiF (0.5 nm)/Al(100 nm) (ITO=indium tin oxide, EML=emissive layer, BCP=2,9‐dimethyl‐4,7‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, Alq₃=tris(8‐hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum), which exhibited white emission with a turn‐on voltage of 8 V and a brightness of 22 cd m^?2.