Cu(i)-catalyzed double C-H amination: synthesis of 2-iodo-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6ra02953a

An iodine/CuI mediated double oxidative C-H amination reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2-iodo-imidazo[1,2- a ]pyridines. The salient features of this methodology are mild reaction conditions and high regioselectivity. The designed compounds e.g. 2-iodo-imidazo[1,2- a ]pyridines ( 3e ) may serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of marketed drugs like saripidem and nicopidem. Further saripidem was synthesised by using 3e as an intermediate. An iodine/CuI mediated double oxidative C-H amination reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2-iodo-imidazo[1,2- a ]pyridines, which can serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) of marketed drugs like saripidem and nicopidem.