Research on heterocyclic compounds. XXIII. Phenyl derivatives of fused imidazole systems

The reaction of various heteroarylamines with ethyl 2-benzoyl-2-bromoacetate was used to obtain some imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazoles characterized by the presence of a phenyl moiety on the imidazole ring. In the case of thiazole and benzothiazole derivatives, unexpected by-products were isolated and their structures elucidated.