Pd-catalyzed regiocontrolled Sonogashira and Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of 3,6-dihalogenoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: one-pot double-coupling approach

New and efficient regioselective Sonogashira and Suzuki–Miyaura palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of 3,6-dihalogenoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines followed by another cross-coupling has been successfully developed. Various solvents, palladium species and bases were tested. Scope and limitations of this regiocontrolled palladium-catalyzed reaction were investigated. The synthesis of 3,6-disubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives using one-pot regioselective double-coupling approach was developed. This procedure affords convergent syntheses of polysubstituted compounds in high yields in a very few steps.