Fluorocarbon derivatives of nitrogen. Part 11. Synthesis of some 2-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from trifluoroacetonitrile

3-(t-Butoxycarbonyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-$\text{a}$]-pyridine, prepared from trifluoroacetonitrile and pyridinium t-butoxycarbonylmethylide, reacts smoothly with trifluoroacetic acid to provide 2-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-$\text{a}$]pyridine-3-carboxylic acid, which gives 2-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-$\text{a}$]-pyridine when heated. 3-Cyano-2-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-$\text{a}$]pyridine can be obtained $\text{via}$ treatment of trifluoroacetonitrile with pyridinium cyanomethylide, which is sufficiently reactive to effect nucleophilic displacement of fluorine from pentafluoropyridine under mild conditions [→pyridinium cyano(tetrafluoro-4-pyridyl)methylide].