Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via Near UV Light-Induced Cyclization of Azirinylpyridinium Salts

Brønsted acid-catalyzed regioselective ring opening of 2H-azirines by 2-mercaptopyridines and related heterocycles; one pot access to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles

A catalytic and versatile synthetic method for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines has been developed. Brønsted acid-catalysis plays a major role in the regioselective ring opening of 2H-azirines. Nucleophilic attack via the N-centre of mercaptopyridines and their analogues, followed by cyclisation by cleaving the C-S bond, allowed a library of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and related heterocycles to be built. The reaction protocol has been applied to various 2H-azirines, 2-mercaptopyridines, and thiazole-2-thiols, illustrating the generality of reaction conditions. The practical applications include the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, such as anti-tumor agents. This study introduces a novel approach to the synthesis of functional molecules with extensive potential.

Stable 2-Azaallyl Salts as a Bridge between 2H-Azirines and Densely Functionalized 2H-Pyrroles

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of stable 2-azaallyl anion salts by the reaction of alkyl 2-bromo-2H-azirine-2-carboxylates with trimethylsilyl cyanide/Bu4NF has been developed. The domino reaction proceeds in four steps via the cleavage of the azirine C-C bond to provide the tetrabutylammonium salts of stereochemically pure 2-azaallyl anions having U-configuration relative to the cyano groups. The anions with an ortho-substituted aryl group or styryl group exist as a mixture of two geometrical isomers across the N2-C3 bond. 2-Azaallyl anion salts have been shown to be convenient substrates for the one-pot synthesis of densely functionalized 2H-pyrroles by the alkylation-cyclization sequence.

HPW-Catalyzed environmentally benign approach to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

The imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine moiety is present in drugs with several biological activities. The most direct way of obtaining this nucleus is the Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé three-component reaction (GBB-3CR) between aminopyridines, aldehydes, and isocyanides under both Lewis and Brønsted acid catalysis. However, several catalysts for this reaction have major drawbacks such as being expensive, extremely dangerous, strong oxidizing, and even explosive. In this scenario, heteropolyacids emerge as greener and safer alternatives due to their very strong Brønsted acidity. In particular, phosphotungstic acid (HPW) is an economical and green attractive catalyst for being cheap, non-toxic, and is known for its chemical and thermal stability. Herein, we report a straightforward approach to the GBB-3CR using HPW as catalyst in ethanol under microwave (μw) heating. This convenient environmentally benign methodology is broad in scope, provides the heterobicyclic products in high yields (up to 99%), with a low catalyst loading (2 mol %) in only 30 minutes, and allows the successful use of aliphatic aldehydes, substrates not so frequently explored with most usual catalysts for this reaction. Furthermore, the aforementioned advantages make this methodology very attractive and superior to the existing ones.

Divergent Synthesis of Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines and Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines via Reagent-Controlled Cleavage of the C-N or C-C Azirine Bond in 2-Pyridylazirines

The three-membered ring in 2-(2-pyridyl)azirine-2-carboxylic esters and thioesters can undergo selective cleavage of either the N-C2 bond under copper(II) catalysis or the C-C bond under the action of HCl to provide isomeric azirine ring expansion products of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine or imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine series, respectively. Mild catalytic reaction conditions for the formation of pyrazolopyridines make it possible to obtain them directly from 4-bromoisoxazoles by a one-pot, three-stage procedure without isolating the intermediate 2-bromoazirines and 2-(2-pyridyl)azirines.

Synthesis and site selective C-H functionalization of imidazo-[1,2-a]pyridines

Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine has attracted much interest in drug development because of its potent medicinal properties, therefore the discovery of novel methods for its synthesis and functionalization continues to be an exciting area of research. Although transition metal catalysis has fuelled the most significant developments, extremely beneficial metal-free approaches have also been identified. Even though pertinent reviews focused on imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine synthesis, properties (physicochemical and medicinal), and functionalization at the C3 position have been published, none of these reviews has focused on the outcomes obtained in the field of global ring functionalization. We wish here to describe a brief synthesis and an overview of all the functionalization reactions at each carbon atom, viz, C2, C3, C5, C6, C7 and C8 of this scaffold, divided into sections based on site-selectivity and the type of functionalization methods used.