K2S2O8-Mediated halogenation of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using sodium halides as the halogen sources

A convenient halogenation of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using sodium chloride/bromide/iodide as the halogen sources in the presence of K₂S₂O₈ as an easy-to-handle oxidizing agent was developed. The present work offers an efficient and rapid access to 3-chloro-, 3-bromo- and 3-iodo-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines which can be readily converted to C3-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines by cross-coupling reactions.     

One-pot synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from benzyl halides or benzyl tosylates, 2-aminopyridines and isocyanides

A one-pot synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines is described. Benzyl halides or benzyl tosylates are oxidized to aldehydes under mild Kornblum conditions which then undergo a three-component reaction with various 2-aminopyridines and isocyanides to afford the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in excellent yields.     

Transition-metal-free,visible-light-mediated regioselective C–H trifluoromethylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A transition-metal-free, visible-light-induced trifluoromethylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines has been developed at mild conditions by employing cheap and commercially available anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (AQN-2-CO₂H) as the photo-organocatalyst, and Langlois reagent as the trifluoromethylating reagent. A series of 3-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives with broad functionalities could be conveniently and efficiently obtained by direct regioselective functionalization.     

Short and efficient access to imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives

Access to N-protected or N-free imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives as potential antiviral compounds was achieved in good yields from N-protected 7-amino-8-halo-2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines by catalytic coupling of terminal acetylenes under mild conditions using [PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂] or [Cu(Phen)(PPh₃)₂]NO₃.     

NBS mediated protocol for the synthesis of N-bridged fused heterocycles in water

A facile and environmental friendly protocol for the synthesis of N-bridged fused bicyclic compounds such as imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole, from commercially available starting materials has been developed. The reaction proceeds via NBS mediated in situ formation of α-brominated intermediate of corresponding aromatic ketones, 1,3-diketones, β-keto esters, followed by trapping with suitable nucleophiles to provide these versatile imidazole fused bicyclic heterocycles in good yields under metal-free conditions.     

Synthesis of 11-aryl-11H-indeno[1′,2′:4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via dehydrative cyclization of aryl(2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)methanols

A series of 11-aryl-11H-indeno[1′,2′:4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines was obtained via AlCl₃-promoted, dehydrative cyclization of the corresponding aryl(2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)methanols in moderate to good yields. The synthesized compounds can be considered as conformationally restricted, privileged aza-heterocyclic scaffold bearing triarylmethane analogs.     

Multicomponent synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using catalytic zinc chloride

The novel use of zinc chloride to catalyze the one-pot, three component synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from a range of substrates using either conventional heating or microwave irradiation is described. This methodology affords a number of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in reasonable yields and short reaction times without any significant optimization of the reaction conditions.     

Efficient synthesis and antioxidant activity of coelenterazine analogues

A convenient and highly convergent method for the synthesis of new imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-based coelenterazine analogues is reported. The imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine core was constructed through a condensation between 2-aminopyridine analogues and arylglyoxals. Additionally, a new approach to the synthesis of benzylglyoxals was introduced. The imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines display moderate antioxidant activities at a low micromolar level in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).     

Oxone®-mediated direct arylselenylation of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles,imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and 1H-pyrazoles

Oxone mediated reaction of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and 1H-pyrazole derivatives with diaryl diselenides is presented here. The methodology represents an efficient and simple protocol for carrying out the selective synthesis of 5-arylselanyl-imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles, 3-arylselanyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and 4-arylselanyl-1H-pyrazoles in high yields using a stable, nontoxic and cheap oxidant. The reactions were conducted at 60?°C in air using acetonitrile as solvent. Alternatively, the use of ultrasound irradiation is presented as a tool for fast and efficient energy transfer that significantly reduced the reaction time.     

Copper-catalyzed four-component synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via sequential reductive amination,condensation, and cyclization

A novel and efficient four-component approach for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines is described. The copper-catalyzed reductive amination of 2-bromopyridine by sodium azide followed by sequential condensation and cyclization with aldehydes and isocyanides afforded the corresponding imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in good yields.     

Synthesis of imidazo[1,2a]pyridines via three-component reaction of 2-aminopyridines, aldehydes and alkynes

A novel three-component reaction towards the synthesis of imidazo[1,2a]pyridines was independently developed based on 2-aminopyridines, aldehydes and alkynes, and thereby imidazo[1,2a]pyridines were obtained in acceptable yields by the CuSO4/TsOH catalyzed three-component reaction.     

Pd-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine with arenes

A facile method for direct Pd(OAc)₂-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of unactivated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine with simple arenes has been developed. The reaction shows good reaction efficiency, high regioselectivity, and good functional-group compatibility. This approach provides a useful protocol for the preparation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine–arene structure of interest in biological and pharmaceutical materials.     

A novel three-component reaction of N-fluoropyridinium salts: a facile approach to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

The reaction of N-fluoropyridinium triflate with isonitriles in acetonitrile and propionitrile in the presence of NaBH(OAc)₃ led to the formation of the corresponding imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in 44-73% yields. The proposed reaction mechanism involves the intermediate formation of a highly reactive carbene species and apparent reduction of the pyridinium intermediate with NaBH(OAc)₃ to yield the targeted heterocycles.     

A visible-light-promoted cross-dehydrogenative-coupling reaction of N-arylglycine esters with imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A mild and convenient visible-light-promoted cross-dehydrogenative-coupling reaction between N-arylglycine esters and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines for the construction of CC bond was developed. A range of N-arylglycine esters and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines were able to undergo the CDC reaction readily to afford α-heteroaryl substituted α-amino acid derivatives in good to excellent yields. A tentative mechanism for the photoredox reaction was also proposed. Importantly, the use of copper(II) salt as the sole catalyst in this visible-light-promoted transformation makes this reaction sustainable and practical.     

Iron(III)-catalyzed three-component domino strategy for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

An efficient, one-pot, three-component domino strategy has been demonstrated for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using a catalytic amount of Fe(III) chloride in high yields in air. A library of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines was synthesized by the reaction of easily available aldehydes and 2-aminopyridines in a mixture of nitroalkane and DMF (2:1). This transformation presumably occurs by a sequential aza-Henry reaction/cyclization/denitration. The use of readily available chemicals as starting materials, inexpensive metal catalyst, aerobic reaction conditions, tolerance of a wide range of functional groups, and operational simplicity are the notable advantages of this present protocol.     

Preparation of 2-aryl and 2-aryloxymethyl imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and related compounds

A series of substituted 2-aryl imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines has been prepared in which a variety of substituents are introduced on the 4′-position of the phenyl ring and on the 3, 5 , 6 or 7 position of the heterocyclic ring. Most examples have acetamido, bromo, cyano, or formyl substituents at the 4′-position. Analogous imidazo-[2,1-b]fhiazoles and imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines have also been prepared. Another series of compounds consisting of 4′-formylphenoxymethyl derivatives of imidazole, the three positional isomers of pyridine, thiazole, benzimidazole and ring-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines has been prepared. 2-(4′-Formylphenylethenyl) derivatives of imidazole and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine were also prepared.     

Metal-free,base catalyzed oxidative amination and denitration reaction: Regioselective synthesis of 3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A metal-free, regioselective strategy for the synthesis of 3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from β-nitrostyrenes and 2-aminopyridines using triethylamine as the catalyst and H₂O₂ (30% aq.) as the oxidant is reported. The use of an inexpensive base and facile reaction conditions make this strategy a practical alternative for the synthesis of 3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.     

Efficient synthesis of novel dipyridoimidazoles and pyrido[1′,2′;1,2]imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine derivatives

Novel dipyrido[1,2-a;3′,4′-d]imidazoles 7a-d, dipyrido[1,2-a;4′,3′-d]imidazoles 8a,c and pyrido[1′,2′;1,2]imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine derivatives 9a-d were synthesized by two pathways: thermal electrocyclic reaction of 3-alkenylimidazopyridine-2-oximes 10 and direct condensation of ethyl glycinate (or hydrazine) with 2,3-dicarbonylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines 11.     

Research on heterocyclic compounds. XXIII. Phenyl derivatives of fused imidazole systems

The reaction of various heteroarylamines with ethyl 2-benzoyl-2-bromoacetate was used to obtain some imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazoles characterized by the presence of a phenyl moiety on the imidazole ring. In the case of thiazole and benzothiazole derivatives, unexpected by-products were isolated and their structures elucidated.     

Recent synthetic scenario on imidazo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyridines chemical intermediate

Of the biologically important benzene fused heterocycles, the most important are those containing a ring-junction nitrogen. The majority of ring junction systems do not occur naturally, but they have been important from a theoretical viewpoint, for preparation of potentially active analogues. The imidazo[1,2-a] pyridines are an important class of nitrogen ring junction heterocyclic compounds. They have huge applications in medicinal chemistry and drug molecule production. Thus, the initial discussion focuses on synthetic strategies of imidazo[1,2-a] pyridines, and later we disclose the reactivity of the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. This review is intended to summarize and discuss the most recent developments of synthesis and reactivity of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, mainly the contributions after 2007.