Herein, we report a KIO4-mediated, sustainable and chemoselective approach for the one-pot C3( sp2)-H bond hydroxymethylation or methylenation of imidazo-heteroarenes with formaldehyde, generated in situ via the oxidative cleavage of ethylene glycol or glycerol (renewable reagents) through the Malaprade reaction. In the presence of ethylene glycol, a series of 3-hydroxymethyl-imidazo-heteroarenes was obtained in good to excellent yields. These compounds are important intermediates to access pharmaceutical drugs, e.g., Zolpidem. Furthermore, by using glycerol, bis(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)methane derivatives were selectively obtained in good to excellent yields.

KIO4-mediated selective hydroxymethylation/methylenation of imidazo-heteroarenes: A greener approach

ACS Spring 2022

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