Recent Advances in Heterogeneous Catalyst Approaches for the Synthesis of 3-Substituted 2-Arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

Abstract:

The review presents a comprehensive overview of recent progress in heterogeneous catalytic approaches to the synthesis of 3-substituted 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, an essential class of fused heterocyclic compounds with substantial biological and pharmaceutical significance. The scaffolds have gained popularity due to their structural variations, enabling researchers to develop different physicochemical properties for the design of drugs and advanced materials. The 3-position substitution, including benzyl, N-cyclohexyl, and other functional groups, plays a critical role in biological activity and material applications. The review highlights the importance of heterogeneous catalysis, including magnetic nanocatalysts, polymer-supported catalysts, mesoporous materials, and metal-supported catalysts, as an essential strategy for the synthesis of 3-substituted 2- arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. The systems provide multiple benefits, which include the ability to recycle catalysts, the ease of operation, the reduced environmental effects, and the enhanced reaction efficiency that operates at low-temperature conditions. Further, the research highlights synthetic methods, which include multicomponent reactions and especially focus on the Groebke–Blackburn– Bienaymé reaction, oxidative cyclization, and transition-metal-catalyzed coupling processes.