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‐haloimidazo1,2‐a]pyridines is dependent on the availability of the (hetero)arylboronic acids. Thus, with the aim to develop expanded applications of (hetero)arylations of imidazo1,2‐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‐haloimidazo1,2‐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)imidazo1,2‐a]pyridine under Stille conditions (Table 2).