Heterocycles from amino acids. A novel synthetic approach for imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines and imidazo[1,5-a]quinolines

From the corresponding heterocyclic amino acids 2 and 9a the heterocyclic systems imidazo1,5-a]pyridine ( 3 ) and imidazo1,5-a]quinoline ( 10 ) are easily accessible. From compound 7 the tricyclic system 11 was prepared and from compound 17a a pyridyl-1,2,4-triazinone ( 18 ) could be obtained.