Iodine-mediated regioselective C-3 sulfenylation using elemental sulfur and arylhydrazine hydrochloride to access 3-sulfenylated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

Abstract

A transition metal-free protocol for the regioselective C-3 sulfenylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines has been explored using arylhydrazine hydrochloride and elemental sulfur, in the presence of molecular iodine and DABCO via C(sp2)-H functionalization to achieve structurally diverse 3-sulfenylated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in reasonably high yields. © 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry.