Copper-Promoted Regioselective Intermolecular Diamination of Ynamides: Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2‑<i>a</i>]pyridines

A facile access to 3-heterosubstituted (3-oxazolidinonyl/indolyl/phenoxy) imidazo­[1,2-a]­pyridines from readily available 2-aminopyridines and electron-rich (internally activated) alkynes like ynamides/ynamines/ynol ethers is achieved via Cu­(OTf)2-mediated intermolecular diamination under aerobic conditions. The reaction is highly regioselective, owing to internal electron bias, and thus led to a single regioisomer with heterosubstitution at C3.