FeCl3‑Catalyzed Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling between Imidazoheterocycles and Oxoaldehydes

An Fe­(III)-catalyzed efficient dicarbonylation of imidazo­heterocycles has been developed through cross-dehydrogenative coupling between imidazo­heterocycles and oxoaldehydes under ambient air in high yields. The present protocol is also applicable to indolizines. Imidazo­pyridine produced bis­imidazo­pyridine with arylaldehyde. Experimental results suggest that the reactions proceed through the nonradical pathway.