An efficient access to 2,3-diarylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl triflate through a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction-direct arylation sequence

An efficient method to prepare 2,3-diarylimidazo[1,2-alpha]pyridines is described. The procedure involves a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction followed by a direct arylation at position 3. Imidazo[1,2-alpha]pyridin-2-yl triflate was identified as a suitable coupling partner, permitting access to a variety of highly functionalized 2,3-diarylimidazo[1,2-alpha]pyridines. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.