One pot synthesis of substituted imidazopyridines and thiazoles from styrenes in water assisted by NBS

Abstract

Heating of commercially available styrenes with NBS in water followed by reaction with 2-aminopyridines or thioamides afforded important heterocyclic scaffolds in a one pot procedure. The reaction proceeds via co-oxidant free, in situ formation of α-bromoketone using NBS as a bromine source as well as an oxidant followed by trapping with suitable nucleophiles to provide imidazopyridines and thiazoles.