Unexpected one pot pseudo four-component reaction for the synthesis of (10E)-N-benzylidene-2-phenylH-imidazo [1,2-a]pyridin-3-amine derivatives under solvent-free conditions

This work described an efficient pseudo four-component synthesis of (10E)-N-benzylidene-2-phenylH-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-amine derivatives from 2-aminopyridin, malononitrile and arylaldehydes in the presence of NaOH under solvent-free and conventional heating conditions in good to excellent yields. A wide range of aromatic aldehydes would easily undergo condensations with 2-aminopyridin and malononitrile under solvent-free conditions in order to afford the desired products in excellent yields. The use of simple and readily available starting materials, pharmacologically interesting products with applications in bioorganic and medicinal chemistry, and short reaction times are the main advantages of this reaction.