Controlled Regiodivergent C–H Bond Activation of Imidazo[1,5‑<i>a</i>]pyridine via Synergistic Cooperation between Aluminum and Nickel

The catalytic method features a cooperative interaction between Ni and Al imparting remote C–H alkenylation at the C5 position of imidazo­[1,5-<i>a</i>]­pyridine with alkynes at mild conditions. Exclusion of AlMe₃ switches the selectivity to the C3 position. Reactions with styrene and other olefinic substrates affording C5-adducts by Ni/Al catalysis are also included

The Regioselective Switch for Amino-NHC Mediated C–H Activation of Benzimidazole via Ni–Al Synergistic Catalysis

We have disclosed a new mode of a chemically regioselective switch for C–H bond functionalization of benzimidazole derivatives via a cooperative effect invoked by Ni–Al bimetallic catalysis to create a steric requirement for obtaining the linear product of styrene insertion. Yet, excluding the AlMe₃ cocatalyst switches the reaction toward branch selectivity