Gold‐Catalyzed Redox Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2‐<i>a</i>]pyridines using Pyridine <i>N</i>‐Oxide and Alkynes

Abstract A mild, catalytic, atom economical synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐ a ]pyridines has been developed: catalytic dichloro(2‐pyridinecarboxylato)gold [PicAuCl 2 ] in the presence of an acid produces a range of imidazo[1,2‐ a ]pyridines in good yields starting from alkynes and 2‐aminopyridine N ‐oxides. This strategy is mild and foreseen to be of particular use for the installation of stereogenic centers adjacent to the imidazo[1,2‐ a ]pyridine ring without loss of enantiomeric excess. magnified image