Synthesis of Substituted Pyrido[1,2‐<i>a</i>]benzimidazoles by Ruthenium‐Catalyzed C−H Bond Activation and Tandem Cyclization of 2‐Arylimidazo[1,2‐<i>a</i>]pyridines with Iodonium Ylides

Abstract Ruthenium‐catalyzed C−H bond activation and tandem cyclization of 2‐arylimidazo[1,2‐ a ]pyridines with iodonium ylides proceed efficiently. For the first time, easily available inexpensive ruthenium complex were employed to synthesize pyrido[1,2‐ ]benzimidazole derivatives in good yields under simple easy‐to‐operate conditions. Several primary mechanism investigations synthetic applications involving gram‐scale preparation, derivatization reactions transformation ylide generated situ have also been conducted.