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.     

Metalation and halogen‐metal exchange in the imidazo[1,2‐a]quinoxaline series

The n‐butyllithium and lithium 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidide metalation and the halogen‐metal exchange of imidazo[1,2‐a]quinoxaline derivatives followed by quenching with various electrophiles were studied. The reaction conditions have been optimized and various C₁ substituted imidazo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines were obtained in high yields.     

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.     

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).     

One‐pot Sequential Reactions Featuring a Copper‐catalyzed Amination Leading to Pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5‐c]quinolines and Dihydropyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5‐c]quinolines

Tetracyclic skeletons combining an imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine moiety with a quinoline framework such as pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5‐b]quinoline are stimulating increasing interests since they are close isosteres of a series of powerful antiproliferative compounds. In this paper, we report a novel methodology for the synthesis of pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5‐c]quinolines through one‐pot sequential reactions of commercially available or readily obtainable 2‐aminopyridines, 2‐bromophenacyl bromides, aqueous ammonia, and aldehydes. Moreover, dihydropyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5‐c]quinolines could also be obtained in a similar manner by using various ketones as the substrates in place of aldehydes. Notably, the whole procedure combines condensation/amination/cyclization reactions in one pot to give complex compounds in a simple and practical manner. Compared with literature methods, the synthetic strategy reported herein has the advantages of readily available starting materials, structural diversity of products, good functional group tolerance, and obviation of step‐by‐step operations.     

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.     

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 and reactivity of some imidazo‐, triazolo‐ and tetrazolo‐isoquinoline derivatives

1‐Acetylirrüno‐3‐methyl‐1H‐isochromene‐4‐carbonitrile, 1 , reacts with glycine ethyl ester under basic conditions to give an imidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline derivative, while reaction with hydrazine hydrate in 1,4‐dioxane, with further chemistry, provides access to [1,2,4]triazolo[5,1‐a]isoquinoline, [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4‐a]isoquinoline and tetrazolo[5,1‐a]isoquinoline analogs. Benzene ring nitration and radical bromination of substituent methyl groups were investigated in the four tricycles, with some different positional reactivities being found. Two bromomethyl derivatives so produced were oxidised; ethyl 2‐bromomethyl‐6‐cyano‐5‐methylimidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline‐3‐carboxylate gave the anticipated ethyl 6‐cyano‐2‐formyl‐5‐methylimidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline‐3‐carboxylate (which reacted further with hydrazine to form a new system, 8,9‐dihydro‐6‐methyl‐8‐oxopyridazino[4′,5′:4,5]imidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline‐5‐carbonitrile), while 5‐bromomethyl‐2‐methyl[1,2,4]triazolo[5,1‐a]isoquinoline‐6‐carbonitrile unexpectedly gave directly another new system, 5,6‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐7H‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c][1,2,4]triazolo[5,1‐a]isoquinolin‐7‐one.     

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.     

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.     

One‐pot Combinatorial Synthesis of Benzo[4,5]imidazo‐[1,2‐a]thiopyrano[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one Derivatives

A series of novel fused tetracyclic benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐a]thiopyrano[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one derivatives were synthesized via the reaction of aryl aldehyde, 2H‐thiopyran‐3,5(4H,6H)‐dione, and 1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐amine in glacial acetic acid. This protocol features mild reaction conditions, high yields and short reaction time.     

Stacking‐Induced Diamagnetic/Paramagnetic Conversion of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐2(3 H)‐one Derivatives: Near‐Infrared Absorption and Magnetic Properties in the Solid State

Herein, we present three imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐2(3 H)‐one derivatives that are diamagnetic in solution, but paramagnetic in the solid state, possibly owing to a stacking‐induced formation of phenoxide‐type radicals. Notably, a larger bathochromic shift of the absorption (even up to the near‐ infrared region) of these three compounds was observed in the solid state than in solution, which was attributable to the ordered columnar stacking arrangements or their single‐electron character as radicals in the solid state. Interestingly, compared to that in solution, (E)‐3‐(pyridin‐4′‐ylmethylene)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine 2(3 H)‐one displayed a largely red‐shifted emission (centered at 660 nm, with tailing above 800 nm) in the solid state. A larger bathochromic shift (260 nm) of the emission is an indication of better order and tight stacking in the solid state, which is brought about by the rigid and polar acceptor. These three compounds also reveal different magnetic susceptibilities at 300 K, thus implying that they possess various columnar stacking structures. Most interestingly, these three radicals exhibit unusual ferromagnetic‐to‐antiferromagnetic phase transitions, which can be attributed to anisotropic contraction and non‐uniform slippage of the columnar stacking chains.     

An Efficient One‐Pot Four‐Component Synthesis of Functionalized Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines

An efficient one‐pot four‐component protocol for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines was developed by condensing ethane‐1,2‐diamine ( 2 ), 1,1‐bis(methylthio)‐2‐nitroethene ( 1 ), aldehydes 3 , and activated methylene compounds in EtOH under reflux conditions (Tables 1–3). The features of this procedure are operational simplicity, good yields of products, in situ preparation of heterocyclic ketene aminals (HKA), and catalyst‐free conditions.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Bright,Fluorescent Dyes Based on Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines that are Capable of Two‐Photon Absorption

A library of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines was synthesized by using the Gevorgyan method and their linear and non‐linear optical properties were studied. Derivatives that contained both electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing groups at the 2 position were comprehensively investigated. Their emission quantum yield ranged between 0.2–0.7 and it was shown to depend on the substitution pattern, most notably that on the phenyl ring. Electron‐donating substituents improved the luminescence performance of these compounds, whereas electron‐withdrawing substituents led to a more erratic behavior. Substitution on the six‐membered ring had less effect on the fluorescence properties. Extension of the delocalization increased the luminescence quantum yield. A new quadrupolar system was designed that contained two imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine units on its periphery and a 1,4‐dicyanobenzene unit at its center. This system exhibited a large Stokes‐shifted luminescence that was affected by the polarity and rigidity of the solvent, which was ascribed to emission from an excited state with strong charge‐transfer character. This quadrupolar feature also led to an acceptable two‐photon absorption response in the NIR region.     

Synthesis of Novel Disubstituted Pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines,Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidines,and Pyrimido[1,2‐a]benzimidazoles Containing Thioether and Aryl Moieties

A series of novel 6‐[(1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)sulfanyl]‐7‐phenylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines, 5‐phenyl‐6‐[(1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)sulfanyl]imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidines, and 2‐phenyl‐3‐[(1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)sulfanyl]pyrimido[1,2‐a]benzimidazoles have been synthesized in four steps starting with 2‐hydroxyacetophenone. The intermediate 3‐[(1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)sulfanyl]‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐ones reacted with pyrazol‐3‐amines, 5‐methylpyrazol‐3‐amine, and 1H‐imidazol‐2‐amine, 1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐amine via a cyclocondensation to give the title compounds in the presence of MeONa as base, respectively. The approach affords the target compounds in acceptable‐to‐good yields. The new compounds were characterized by their IR, NMR, and HR mass spectra.     

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.