Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Regioselective C3-Alkylation of 2-Arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with Aryl Diazoesters

A regioselective C3-alkylation based on the reaction of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with a wide range of aryl α-diazoesters in the presence of a Rh(II) catalyst in dichloroethane at room temperature was developed. This method could be applied in the synthesis of benzoimidazoquinolizinone and cycloheptaimidazopyridinone, which are novel heterocyclic scaffolds. (Figure presented.). © 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim