Application of 2-(2-chloroaroyl)methyleneimidazolidines in domino and multicomponent reaction: new entries to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and benzo[b]imidazo[1,2,3-ij][1,8]naphthyridines

A new strategy for the synthesis of tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and unusual tetrahydrobenzo[b]imidazo[1,2,3-ij][1,8]naphthyridines has been successfully developed by cascade reactions including Knoevenagel condensation, aza-ene reaction, imine-enamine tautomerization, cyclocondensation/oxidation, and intramolecular S_NAr of precursors 2-(2-chloroaroyl)methyleneimidazolidines as new heterocyclic ketene aminals (HKA), which represent a class of polyfunctional scaffolds with four active reaction sites with aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile or ethyl 2-cyanoacetate under mild conditions. In this domino reaction, nine different active sites are involved, and two C-C bonds, two C-N bonds, and two new rings are constructed with all reactants efficiently utilized in the chemical transformation.