Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Cyclization of 2‑Amino-azaarenes with Lignin Models: Synthesis of 3‑Phenoxy Imidazo Heterocycles

A catalytic oxidative cyclization of 2-aminopyridines or 2-aminobenzothiazole with 2-phenoxyacetophenones (a kind of lignin platform compound) was developed, efficiently providing valuable 3-phenoxy imidazo­[1,2-a]­pyridines or 3-phenoxy benzo­[d]­imidazo­[2,1-b]­thiazoles. The reaction was realized under oxygen by simply using inexpensive CuI as the catalyst.