Synthesis and properties of 4-haloimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-ones

Summary The nitro group in 4-nitroimidazo4,5-c]pyridin-2-ones is rather labile and may be replaced upon heating with hydrohalic acids to give the corresponding 4-halides. A methyl group at N₍₃₎ leads to a sharp increase in the lability of the nitro group, but the isomeric 5-vitro derivatives do not react with hydrobromic or hydrochloric acids. Some reactions and transformations of 4-chloroimidazo4,5-clpyridin-2-one are examined.Translated from Khimiya Getcrotsiklichcskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1071-1075, August, 1994.