Copper(I) Iodide-Catalysed Aerobic Oxidative Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from 2-Aminopyridines and Methyl Ketones

We report here an operationally simple copper-catalysed synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines through CH activation with oxidative linkage of two CN bonds under very mild conditions using molecular oxygen as a sole oxidant. The process allows the quick assembly of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines including the antiulcer drug zolimidine from inexpensive and readily available 2-aminopyridines and methyl ketones with broad range of functional group tolerance.