Jing Jiao, Jun-Rong Zhang, Yan-Yan Liao, Li Xu, Maolin Hu and Ri-Yuan Tang
RSC Adv., 2017,7, 30152-30159
DOI:
10.1039/C7RA05303G,
Paper
A copper/air mediated oxidative coupling reaction of imidazoheterocycles with N-aryl glycine esters is here described. The reaction proceeded effectively under an air atmosphere without the use of peroxide agents. This simple protocol allows for the preparation of a wide range of imidazoheterocycles with a glycine ester motif, which are of great interest in the field of medicinal chemistry. Interestingly, the coupling of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine with secondary or tertiary α-amino phenylethanone selectively affords the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl imine or imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl diketone in the presence of CuCl and TBHP (tertbutyl hydroperoxide).