Molecular iodine-catalysed oxidative CO–C(alkyl) bond cleavage of aryl/heteroaryl alkyl ketones: an efficient strategy to access fused polyheterocycles

An efficient molecular iodine-catalysed one-pot strategy has been accomplished for the construction of various fused heterocycles such as pyridoimidazoles, pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines and imidazobenzothiazoles under metal and oxidant free conditions. Gratifyingly, this method allows the sequential formation of C–N and C–C bonds with concomitant CO–C(alkyl) bond cleavage. The key features of this protocol are a broad substrate scope, operational simplicity, good to moderate yields and metal-free conditions, which make this protocol convenient for the generation of a library of fused polyheterocycles.