A Carbonylation Approach Toward Activation of Csp2-H and Csp3-H Bonds: Cu-Catalyzed Regioselective Cross Coupling of Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with Methyl Hetarenes.

An efficient copper-catalyzed selective cross coupling of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with methyl hetarenes has been reported. This transformation opened a new route to synthesize the C-3 carbonyl imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative, which is a common structural motif in natural products and pharmaceuticals. (18)O-labeling experiments indicated that the oxygen source of products originated from O2.