Synthesis,X-ray crystal structure determination and antiinflammatory activity of the regioisomers: 5-phenyl-6-(4-pyridyl)-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole and 6-phenyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole. A structural reassignment

A regiospecific synthesis of 6-phenyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-2,3-dihydroimidazo2,1-b]thiazole ( 2 ) was accomplished by treatment of 6-phenyl-2,3-dihydroimidazo2,1-b]thiazole ( 10 ) with the reactive complex of pyridine and ethyl chloroformate followed by oxidation with chromium(VI) oxide. Reaction of 4-phenyl-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole-2-thione ( 12 ) with 1,2-dibromoethane in the presence of base also gave 2 together with its regioisomer 3 . The structures of 2 and 3 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Evaluation, on oral administration, in a one hour arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear inflammation assay, showed the inhibition of edema by 2 (48%) and 3 (34%) to be less than that of the 6-(4-fluorophenyl) analog 1 (SK&/F 86002) (69%), a known antiinflammatory agent.