Towards the improvement of the synthesis of novel 4(5)-aryl-5(4)-heteroaryl-2-thio-substituted imidazoles and their p38 MAP kinase inhibitory activity.

A series of 2-alkylsulfanyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(2-aminopyridin-4-yl)-substituted imidazoles was prepared and interaction possibilities of the 2-thioether moiety with phosphate/ribose binding pockets of p38 MAP kinase were investigated. Introduction of the alkyl/benzyl amino function at the pyridine moiety was carried out via nucleophilic substitution or via palladium catalyzed aryl-C-N-bond formation.