Synthesis of 5-arylhistidines via a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling

Microwave irradiation efficiently promoted the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of a 5-bromohistidine with various arylboronic acids in the presence of a palladium catalyst. This methodology allowed the synthesis of histidines substituted at position 5 of the imidazole ring with a phenyl, a substituted phenyl, a pyridyl or a thienyl ring. The corresponding 5-arylhistidines were obtained in moderate to good yields.