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Synfacts 2011(12): 1303-1303  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1289426
Synthesis of Materials and Unnatural Products
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

A One-Pot Approach to ‘Shutting the Lights Off’ in the Presence of Mercury Ion

Contributor(s): Timothy M. Swager, Jason R. Cox
N. Shao, G.-X. Pang, C.-X. Yan, G.-F. Shi, Y. Cheng*
Beijing Normal University, P. R. of China
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Publication History

Publication Date:
18 November 2011 (online)

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Significance

The authors describe a one-pot approach to the formation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines utilizing β-lactam carbenes 1 and 2-pyridyl isonitriles 2. The reaction affords the desired heterocycles 3 in good yields (41-84%) with a variety of functional groups (see above). The authors also provide a plausible mechanism for the reaction. The resulting heterocycles have quantum yields in the range of 1-3% in acetonitrile and are strongly quenched in the presence of the Hg²+ ion.