Selective,C-3 Friedel-Crafts acylation to generate functionally diverse,acetylated Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives

Carbon-carbon bonds are integral for pharmaceutical discovery and development. Frequently, CC bond reactions utilize expensive catalyst/ligand combinations and/or are low yielding, which can increase time and expenditures in pharmaceutical development. To enhance CC bond formation protocols, we developed a highly efficient, selective, and combinatorially applicable Friedel-Crafts acylation to acetylate the C-3 position of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. The reaction, catalyzed by aluminum chloride, is both cost effective and more combinatorial friendly compared to acetylation reactions requiring multiple, stoichiometric equivalents of AlCl₃. The protocol has broad application in the construction of acetylated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with an extensive substrate scope. All starting materials are common and the reaction requires inexpensive, conventional heating methods for adaptation in any laboratory. Further, the synthesized compounds are predicted to possess GABA activity through a validated, GABA binding model. The developed method serves as a superior route to generate C-3 acetylated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine building-blocks for combinatorial synthetic efforts.     

NBS mediated protocol for the synthesis of N-bridged fused heterocycles in water

A facile and environmental friendly protocol for the synthesis of N-bridged fused bicyclic compounds such as imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole, from commercially available starting materials has been developed. The reaction proceeds via NBS mediated in situ formation of α-brominated intermediate of corresponding aromatic ketones, 1,3-diketones, β-keto esters, followed by trapping with suitable nucleophiles to provide these versatile imidazole fused bicyclic heterocycles in good yields under metal-free conditions.     

One-pot,three-component synthesis of 1-amidomethyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines catalyzed by ytterbium triflate

A straightforward method has been developed for the synthesis of 1-amidomethyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines by Yb(OTf)₃ catalyzed three-component reaction of aldehydes, acetamide, and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. A series of substituted 3-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines were synthesized in moderate to good yield (21–74%) under mild reaction condition and the catalyst was recycled for four cycles.     

Synthesis of 2-phosphonylated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines under catalyst-free conditions

A series of novel 2-phosphonylated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines was accessed from CN coupling of chloroethynylphosphonates and commercially available N-unsubstituted 2-aminopyridines. The product yield depends on the nature and position of the substituent in the pyridine ring.     

Recent synthetic scenario on imidazo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyridines chemical intermediate

Of the biologically important benzene fused heterocycles, the most important are those containing a ring-junction nitrogen. The majority of ring junction systems do not occur naturally, but they have been important from a theoretical viewpoint, for preparation of potentially active analogues. The imidazo[1,2-a] pyridines are an important class of nitrogen ring junction heterocyclic compounds. They have huge applications in medicinal chemistry and drug molecule production. Thus, the initial discussion focuses on synthetic strategies of imidazo[1,2-a] pyridines, and later we disclose the reactivity of the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. This review is intended to summarize and discuss the most recent developments of synthesis and reactivity of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, mainly the contributions after 2007.     

One-pot synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from benzyl halides or benzyl tosylates, 2-aminopyridines and isocyanides

A one-pot synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines is described. Benzyl halides or benzyl tosylates are oxidized to aldehydes under mild Kornblum conditions which then undergo a three-component reaction with various 2-aminopyridines and isocyanides to afford the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in excellent yields.     

Transition-metal-free,visible-light-mediated regioselective C–H trifluoromethylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A transition-metal-free, visible-light-induced trifluoromethylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines has been developed at mild conditions by employing cheap and commercially available anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (AQN-2-CO₂H) as the photo-organocatalyst, and Langlois reagent as the trifluoromethylating reagent. A series of 3-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives with broad functionalities could be conveniently and efficiently obtained by direct regioselective functionalization.     

Multicomponent synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using catalytic zinc chloride

The novel use of zinc chloride to catalyze the one-pot, three component synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from a range of substrates using either conventional heating or microwave irradiation is described. This methodology affords a number of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in reasonable yields and short reaction times without any significant optimization of the reaction conditions.     

Efficient synthesis of novel dipyridoimidazoles and pyrido[1′,2′;1,2]imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine derivatives

Novel dipyrido[1,2-a;3′,4′-d]imidazoles 7a-d, dipyrido[1,2-a;4′,3′-d]imidazoles 8a,c and pyrido[1′,2′;1,2]imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine derivatives 9a-d were synthesized by two pathways: thermal electrocyclic reaction of 3-alkenylimidazopyridine-2-oximes 10 and direct condensation of ethyl glycinate (or hydrazine) with 2,3-dicarbonylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines 11.     

Iron(III)-catalyzed three-component domino strategy for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

An efficient, one-pot, three-component domino strategy has been demonstrated for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using a catalytic amount of Fe(III) chloride in high yields in air. A library of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines was synthesized by the reaction of easily available aldehydes and 2-aminopyridines in a mixture of nitroalkane and DMF (2:1). This transformation presumably occurs by a sequential aza-Henry reaction/cyclization/denitration. The use of readily available chemicals as starting materials, inexpensive metal catalyst, aerobic reaction conditions, tolerance of a wide range of functional groups, and operational simplicity are the notable advantages of this present protocol.     

A one-pot synthesis of polysubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A series of 5,7,8-polysubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines were synthesized regioselectively from in situ generated α,β-unsaturated imines and dianions derived from methyl azolyl acetates in a one-pot procedure. The targeted molecules were conveniently isolated in analytically pure form (ca. 50-70% yields) by trituration of the concentrated reaction mixtures with cold ether.     

Synthesis and properties of cyanomethyl derivatives of imidazo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyridine,imidazo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyrimidine,and imidazo[2,1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thiazole

2-Cyanomethyl derivatives were obtained of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine, and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole, and their reactivity was investigated by an example of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine: It was subjected to nitration, bromination, azo coupling and nitrosation. Acylation of the methylene group effected by amino acids esters with a subsequent addition of the amino group to the cyano group resulted in the formation of 5-amino-4-imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-2-yl-1-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrol-3-one and 2-amino-1-ethyl-3-imidazol[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl-4(1H)-quinolinone.     

Synthesis of imidazo[1,2a]pyridines via three-component reaction of 2-aminopyridines, aldehydes and alkynes

A novel three-component reaction towards the synthesis of imidazo[1,2a]pyridines was independently developed based on 2-aminopyridines, aldehydes and alkynes, and thereby imidazo[1,2a]pyridines were obtained in acceptable yields by the CuSO4/TsOH catalyzed three-component reaction.     

Recyclable Carbon Nitride Nanosheet-Photocatalyzed Aminomethylation of Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in Green Solvent

An efficient and eco-friendly carbon nitride nanosheet(NM-g-C3N4)-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction of imidazo-fused heterocycles(i.e.,imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines,benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole)with N-phenylglycines in dimethyl carbonate(DMC)has been developed.The toxic solvents,external oxidants,and restricted reaction conditions could be effectively avoided in this powerful and sustainable protocol.Remarkably,NM-g-C3N4 could be straightforwardly recovered by simple centrifugation and recycled and reused at least 7 times without an obvious decrease in catalytic activity.     

Metal free coupling of heteroaryl N-tosylhydrazones and thiols: Efficient synthesis of sulfides

A metal free coupling of heteroaromatic N-tosylhydrazones with thiols is presented. A convenient synthetic route to synthesize heteroaryl N-tosylhydrazones is also showed. Valuable thioethers with pyrroles, pyridines, thieno[2,3-b]pyridines, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, and 6H-thieno[2,3-b]pyrroles derivatives were synthesized in good yields. This coupling reaction can be carried out in a one-pot fashion and scaled up to the gram scale by using heteroaryl aldehydes, without the need to isolate the N-tosylhydrazone.     

Synthesis of 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones by the domino Michael addition retro-ene reaction of 2-alkoxyiminoimidazolidines and acetylene carboxylates

2-Alkoxyiminoimidazolidines 2-3 react with acetylene dicarboxylates and ethyl phenylpropiolate to give 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones C, which subsequently undergo a sterically induced multihetero-retro-ene fragmentation to give imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones 4-7 together with formaldehyde or benzaldehyde. On the other hand, a similar reaction of 2-3 with ethyl propiolate gives corresponding 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones 8-10. The unsubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-one 11 can be prepared by retro-ene reaction of 9 upon prolonged heating in refluxing ethanol. A direct synthetic approach to 1-formyl-7-phenyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-5(1H)-one 14 is reported using DMF/sulfonyl chloride as a new Vilsmeier-type N-formylating reagent.     

NH4I-catalyzed chalcogen(S/Se)-functionalization of 5-membered N-heteroaryls under metal-free conditions

Herein, we described the NH₄I-catalyzed CH bond chalcogenation of N-heteroaryls in the presence of a minimum amount of DMSO/H₂O/acetic acid as additives (2.5/2.5/1?M equiv., respectively), under metal-free conditions. Under optimized conditions, a wide variety of sulfenyl/selenyl imidazo[1,2-α]pyridines were prepared in very good yields. Moreover, the present approach was also highly efficient for the chalcogenation of different 5-membered N-heteroaryls, e.g., indole, imidazothiazole, indazole and imidazopyrimidine derivatives.     

A novel three-component reaction of N-fluoropyridinium salts: a facile approach to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

The reaction of N-fluoropyridinium triflate with isonitriles in acetonitrile and propionitrile in the presence of NaBH(OAc)₃ led to the formation of the corresponding imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in 44-73% yields. The proposed reaction mechanism involves the intermediate formation of a highly reactive carbene species and apparent reduction of the pyridinium intermediate with NaBH(OAc)₃ to yield the targeted heterocycles.     

Copper-catalyzed four-component synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via sequential reductive amination,condensation, and cyclization

A novel and efficient four-component approach for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines is described. The copper-catalyzed reductive amination of 2-bromopyridine by sodium azide followed by sequential condensation and cyclization with aldehydes and isocyanides afforded the corresponding imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in good yields.     

Efficient synthesis and antioxidant activity of coelenterazine analogues

A convenient and highly convergent method for the synthesis of new imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-based coelenterazine analogues is reported. The imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine core was constructed through a condensation between 2-aminopyridine analogues and arylglyoxals. Additionally, a new approach to the synthesis of benzylglyoxals was introduced. The imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines display moderate antioxidant activities at a low micromolar level in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).