Zwitterionic-Type Molten Salt Catalyzed Iodination in Water: Synthesis of Iodoimidazoheterocycles

Abstract An environmentally benign protocol for the iodination of imidazoheterocycles has been developed through sp 2 C–H bond functionalization with molecular iodine in water at room temperature. The reaction is catalyzed by an imidazole-based zwitterion-type molten salt. A library of iodo-substituted imidazo[1,2- a ]pyridines with broad functionality have been synthesized. This methodology is also applicable to imidazo[2,1- b ]thiazole and imidazole scaffolds.