Synthesis of fused imidazo-pyridine and -azepine derivatives by sequential van Leusen/Heck reactions

Fused imidazo-pyridine and -azepine derivatives were synthesized using a sequential van Leusen/intramolecular Heck protocol. The combination of a multicomponent reaction followed by an intramolecular carbon-carbon bond forming reaction generates heterocycles of significant molecular complexity from readily available starting materials in just two steps.