Regioselective Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Cross-Coupling of Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with Methyl Ketones: An Efficient Route for Synthesis of 1,2-Diketones

Abstract

An efficient copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with methyl ketones to directly generate structurally sophisticated 1,2-dicarbonyl imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives under oxidative conditions is described. The reaction proceeds in good yields using the environmental friendly molecular oxygen as the oxidant. 18O-Labelling experiments unambiguously established that the oxygen of the dicarbonyl products originated from oxygen rather than from water.