Rh(III)-Catalyzed Tandem Bicyclization of 2-Arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with Cyclic Enones for the Construction of Bridged Scaffolds

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.

Catalyst-Controlled Regiodivergent Oxidative Annulation of 2-Arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with Cinnamaldehyde Derivatives for Construction of Fused N-Heterocyclic Frameworks

Catalyst-dependent regioselective oxidative annulation of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with cinnamaldehyde derivatives to construct fused N-heterocyclic frameworks has been described. The annulation reaction afforded 5-arylnaphtho[1',2':4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-6-carbaldehydes in the presence of [RhCp*Cl2]2 as catalyst while 1,7-diarylimidazo[5,1,2-cd]indolizine-6-carbaldehydes were obtained using Pd(OAc)2 as catalyst. The reaction produced annulated products in good yields and exhibited broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance. The method provides two different isomeric annulated products bearing an aldehyde functionality which can be elaborated into an array of functionalities leading to valuable compounds.

[RhCp*Cl2]2-Catalyzed Indole Functionalization: Synthesis of Bioinspired Indole-Fused Polycycles

Polycyclic fused indoles are ubiquitous in natural products and pharmaceuticals due to their immense structural diversity and biological inference, making them suitable for charting broader chemical space. Indole-based polycycles continue to be fascinating as well as challenging targets for synthetic fabrication because of their characteristic structural frameworks possessing biologically intriguing compounds of both natural and synthetic origin. As a result, an assortment of new chemical processes and catalytic routes has been established to provide unified access to these skeletons in a very efficient and selective manner. Transition-metal-catalyzed processes, in particular from rhodium(III), are widely used in synthetic endeavors to increase molecular complexity efficiently. In recent years, this has resulted in significant progress in reaching molecular scaffolds with enormous biological activity based on core indole skeletons. Additionally, Rh(III)-catalyzed direct C-H functionalization and benzannulation protocols of indole moieties were one of the most alluring synthetic techniques to generate indole-fused polycyclic molecules efficiently. This review sheds light on recent developments toward synthesizing fused indoles by cascade annulation methods using Rh(III)-[RhCp*Cl2]2-catalyzed pathways, which align with the comprehensive and sophisticated developments in the field of Rh(III)-catalyzed indole functionalization. Here, we looked at a few intriguing cascade-based synthetic designs catalyzed by Rh(III) that produced elaborate frameworks inspired by indole bioactivity. The review also strongly emphasizes mechanistic insights for reaching 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4-fused indole systems, focusing on Rh(III)-catalyzed routes. With an emphasis on synthetic efficiency and product diversity, synthetic methods of chosen polycyclic carbocycles and heterocycles with at least three fused, bridged, or spiro cages are reviewed. The newly created synthesis concepts or toolkits for accessing diazepine, indol-ones, carbazoles, and benzo-indoles, as well as illustrative privileged synthetic techniques, are included in the featured collection.

Rh(III)-catalyzed [3 + 2] spiroannulation of 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzoxazines with 4-hydroxy-2-alkynoates through ortho-C-H bond functionalization

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed [3 + 2]-spiroannulation of 2-aryl-1,4-benzoxazines with 4-hydroxy-2-alkynoates has been developed for the synthesis of highly rigid spirolactones in good yields with high regioselectivity. The reaction proceeds through a cascade of C-H activation followed by C-H annulation and lactonization. In this approach, two C-C and C-O bonds are formed in a single step. This is the first report on the spiroannulation of 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzoxazines with 4-hydroxy-2-alkynoates.

Ir(III)-Catalyzed Dual C-H Activation of 2-Aryl Phthalazinediones and 3-Aryl-2H-benzo[e][1,2,4]thiadiazine-1,1-dioxides for the Construction of Spiro-Fused Cyclic Frameworks

An Ir(III)-catalyzed double C-H activation strategy has been developed for the synthesis of highly rigid spiro frameworks by means of ortho-functionalization of 2-aryl phthalazinediones and 2,3-diphenylcycloprop-2-en-1-ones using the Ir(III)/AgSbF₆ catalytic system. Similarly, 3-aryl-2H-benzo[e][1,2,4]thiadiazine-1,1-dioxides undergo smooth cyclization with 2,3-diphenylcycloprop-2-en-1-ones to afford a diverse range of spiro compounds in good yields with excellent selectivity. Additionally, 2-arylindazoles provide the corresponding chalcone derivatives under similar reaction conditions.

Photocatalytic sequential C-H functionalization expediting acetoxymalonylation of imidazo heterocycles

The importance of functionalized imidazo heterocycles has often been featured in several impactful research both from academia and industry. Herein, we report a direct C-3 acetoxymalonylation of imidazo heterocycles using relay C-H functionalization enabled by organophotocatalysis starring zinc acetate in the triple role of an activator, ion scavenger as well as an acetylating reagent. The mechanistic investigation revealed a sequential sp² and sp³ C-H activation, followed by functionalization driven by zinc acetate coupled with the photocatalyst PTH. A variety of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and related heterocycles were explored as substrates along with several active methylene reagents, all generating the products with excellent yields and regioselectivity, thus confirming excellent functional group tolerability.

Nickel-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] benzannulation of alkynes: a new route to the synthesis of highly substituted naphthalenes

The Ni(II)-catalyzed aromatic homologation of various directing groups with alkynes to afford highly substituted naphthalene products via C-X bond cleavage followed by alkyne insertion and C-H activation is described. This reaction proceeded with a wide range of directing groups such as pyrazoles, imidazopyridines, benzoimidazothiazoles, thiazoles and triazoles with alkynes to afford highly substituted naphthalenes in moderate to good yields. This transformation is promoted by a simple, straightforward combination of a Ni(II)-complex, Zn dust and a base.

Ortho C-H Functionalization of 2-Arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

C-H activation and functionalization is quite promising in recent days as the strategy offers a go-to general method for different bond formations and hence grants synthetic versatility. At the same time, imidazopyridine, a fused bicycle of imidazole moiety with pyridine ring, has a profound impact due to its ubiquitous and prodigious application in medicinal as well as material chemistry. The presence of N-1 atom in 2-arylImidazo[1,2-a]pyridine facilitates the coordination with metal catalysts leading to the formation of ortho-substituted products. This review summarizes all the articles on ortho C-H functionalization of 2-arylImidazo[1,2-a]pyridines published till August 2021.

In(ONf)3-catalyzed 7-membered carbon-ring-forming annulation of heteroarylindoles with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

We developed the two recipes, on the indium-catalyzed reductive and oxidative 7-membered carbon-ring-forming annulations of heteroarylindoles with a,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed C(sp2)-H Bond Bisallylation with Imidazopyridines as Directing Groups

A Ru(II)-catalyzed bisallylation of imidazopyridines with vinylcyclopropanes or vinyl cyclic carbonate has been successfully realized. Notably, pharmacophore imidazopyridine was utilized as an intrinsic directing group, which gave access to value-added bisallylated products in high yields via double tandem C-H and C-C/C-O activation. The current methodology was featured with broad substrate scope, good functional group compatibility, and operational simplicity.

Construction of Bridged Carbocycles and Heterocycles via Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Alkylation/Michael Addition of 2-Arylindoles with Quinone Monoacetals

A rhodium-catalyzed formal [4 + 5] annulation reaction of 2-arylindoles with quinone monoacetals for the selective preparation of bridged nine-membered carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds is developed. When 2-aryl substituted indoles are employed, this annulation reaction affords bridged nine-membered carbocyclic compounds with excellent indolyl C3 selectivity. On the other hand, with 2-aryl-3-substituted indoles as the substrates, bridged nine-membered heterocyclic compounds are exclusively formed via N1 annulation. Further transformations of the obtained products into new bridged compounds showcase the synthetic potential of this protocol.

Access to [4,3,1]-Bridged Carbocycles via Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation of 2-Arylindoles and Annulation with Quinone Monoacetals

Reported herein is the Rh(III)-catalyzed annulation of N-unprotected 2-arylindoles with quinone monoacetals for the straightforward synthesis of [4,3,1]-bridged carbocycles with exclusive C(3) selectivity. Mechanistic studies, particularly deuterium-labeling experiments, suggest that the coupling likely proceeds via two-fold C-H activation with two-fold migratory insertion into the enone moieties.

Synthesis of naphtho[1′,2′:4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via Rh(iii)-catalyzed C–H functionalization of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with cyclic 2-diazo-1,3-diketones featuring with a ring opening and reannulation

An unprecedented synthesis of functionalized naphtho[1′,2′:4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via rhodium-catalyzed cascade reactions of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carbaldehydes with cyclic α-diazo-1,3-diketones is presented.