Intramolecular arylation reactions: first efficient synthesis of novel fused pyridoimidazoquinolinones or pyridoimidazoazepinones libraries

An efficient method for the synthesis of new polycyclic skeletons: pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[5,4-c]quinolin-6(5H)-ones and pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[5,4-c]azepin-7(6H)-ones libraries is described via Pd-catalyzed intramolecular arylation involving C(sp2)-H activation. This method permits the synthesis of polycyclic derivatives in good yield. The process tolerates a variety of aryl substituents as well as alkyl imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxamide structures. The resultant compounds, 10(11)-chloro-pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[5,4-c]quinolinones or azepinones are functionalized under Suzuki cross-coupling conditions to give polyfunctional compounds.