Gold-Catalyzed Synthesis of 3-Acylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via Carbene Oxidation

A convenient gold-catalyzed strategy for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives has been developed via gold carbene complexes. This transformation opens a new synthetic route to a variety of 3-carbonyl-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using air as oxidant affording the products in good yields.