Unprecedented Catalytic Activity of Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O: Regioselective Synthesis of 2-Nitroimidazopyridines via Oxidative Amination

Abstract

A unique iron-catalyzed oxidative diamination of nitroalkene with 2-aminopyridine for the synthesis of 2-nitro-3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with complete regioselectivity has been achieved under mild and aerobic reaction conditions. This is the first method for the synthesis of 2-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. These scaffolds were also synthesized directly from styrenes.