CuI-catalyzed aerobic oxidative α-aminaton cyclization of ketones to access aryl or alkenyl-substituted imidazoheterocycles.

CuI-catalyzed aerobic oxidative synthesis of imidazoheterocycles has been achieved. Four hydrogen atoms were removed in one step. This protocol was compatible with a broad range of functional groups, and it has been also successfully extended to unsaturated ketones, bringing about the formation of alkenyl-substituted imidazoheterocycles, which were difficult to prepare by previous means. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that this reaction was most likely to proceed through a catalytic Ortoleva-King reaction. By using this method, the marketed drug Zolimidine could be prepared with 90% yield on a gram scale from commercially available materials.