One‐pot Synthesis of Benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Derivatives in Aqueous Conditions

One‐pot reaction of cyclic 1,3‐diketones, dimethylformamide dimethylacetal (DMFDMA) and 2‐(1H‐benzod ]imidaz‐2‐yl)acetonitrile was found to be a highly selective process leading to 4‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydrobenzo4,5]imidazo1,2‐a ]quinolin‐6‐yl cyanides. Optimized reaction conditions using water as solvent at room temperature or under microwave heating allowed high yields of the target products required no additional purification.