Synthesis of novel imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with potent activity against herpesviruses.

[reaction: see text] Synthesis of a novel imidazopyridine with potent activity against herpes simplex viruses is presented. Several synthetic approaches that describe the introduction of a C-3 pyrimidine substituent on the imidazopyridine core via construction of the pyrimidine or Stille coupling are outlined. Methodology for efficient installation of C-8 amine substituents was developed. The outlined strategies provide a high-yielding, scalable route that is amenable to rapid analogue synthesis.