A transition-metal-free postmodification
of the Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé
(GBB) reaction for the synthesis of spiro[chromene-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin]-3′-imine was discovered. The unusual transformation
represents the first example of activation and the reaction of the
imidazole carbon atom. In this postcondensational modification, KOt-Bu acts as a base, which, after the isomerization of an
alkyne moiety to allene, causes the next unique nucleophilic reaction
of the imidazole carbon atom that results in spirocyclic structures.
The proposed reaction mechanism was confirmed based on the DFT calculations.
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