Switchable electrooxidative N-methyl amines: access to C3-aminomethylated and C3-arylmethylated imidazo[1,2-a] pyridines

Abstract

Switchable approaches to accomplish the C3-aminomethylation and C3-arylmethylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with N-methylanilines using distinct electrochemical conditions have been developed. These two transformations exhibited notable regio- and chemoselectivities under air and metal/oxidant-free conditions. Remarkably, the environmentally benign electrochemical methods could be extended to the late-stage derivatization of natural products and drugs using N-methyl amines as a 1C source.