Practical multi-component synthesis of di- or tri-aryl (Heteraryl) substituted 2-(pyridin-2-yl)imidazoles from simple building blocks.

A convenient and highly efficient multicomponent protocol has been developed for the synthesis of various poly-substituted 2-(pyridin-2-yl)imidazoles from 2-cyanopyridine, corresponding aromatic aldehydes, and NH(4)OAc/primary amine. Notably, tri-substituted 2-(pyridin-2-yl)imidazoles were highly yielded when aromatic primary amines were used as substrates, but both di- and tri-substituted 2-(pyridin-2-yl)imidazoles were obtained in one pot when some aliphatic primary amines were used as substrates.