Abstract:
Synthesis of 3-(arylthio)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2(3H)-ols has been achieved through a catalyst-free, one-pot reaction of 2-aminopyridinium bromides with sodium arenesulfinates. The tandem reaction involved intramolecular amidation followed by sulfenylation and afforded a wide range of 3-(arylthio)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2(3H)-ols in moderate to excellent (33–85 %) yields. The method exhibited broad substrate scope with a wide range of functional group tolerance, and is amenable for gram-scale synthesis.