Iron(III)-catalyzed three-component domino strategy for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

An efficient, one-pot, three-component domino strategy has been demonstrated for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using a catalytic amount of Fe(III) chloride in high yields in air. A library of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines was synthesized by the reaction of easily available aldehydes and 2-aminopyridines in a mixture of nitroalkane and DMF (2:1). This transformation presumably occurs by a sequential aza-Henry reaction/cyclization/denitration. The use of readily available chemicals as starting materials, inexpensive metal catalyst, aerobic reaction conditions, tolerance of a wide range of functional groups, and operational simplicity are the notable advantages of this present protocol.