A facile acid catalysed cyclisation method for the preparation of the cyclic urea 2H‐imidazo4,5‐c]pyridin‐2‐one ( 2 ) in > 95 % yield is reported. The biologically active compound 2 can be obtained by heating (3‐amino‐4‐pyridinyl)‐carbamic acid methyl, ethyl or tert‐butyl esters ( 1a‐c ) in sulfuric acid (0.1 %) or in aqueous HBF4 (3.5 equivalents) for 10 min. ‐ 3 hrs at 90 °C. The corresponding microwave‐promoted (MW) reactions afforded the pure product 2 within few minutes. The 6‐butylamino‐substituted analogue ( 2a ) was correspondingly obtained by MW irradiation in 99 % yield by cyclisation of 2‐(butylamino)‐5‐amino‐4‐pyridylcarbamic acid isopropyl ester ( 1d ). Quantitative precipitation of product 2 was obtained by pH adjustment. The process represents a solvent‐free, “green” method for the preparation of 2 .
