Diverse functionalization of thiazolo ring-fused 2-pyridones

Thiazolo ring-fused 2-pyridones have proven to be highly interesting scaffolds for the development of biologically active compounds. Many methods are today available to introduce a variety of substituents in the 2-pyridone part of the heterocycle. Herein we disclose how a diverse set of substituents can be introduced in the thiazolo ring, with possibilities to vary also the spatial arrangement of the substituents. A key intermediate is the oxidized framework 9 for which an effective synthesis is described. The thiazolo part of this system can be substituted either via conjugate additions, resulting in trans selectivity, or via microwave-assisted Heck couplings that result in unsaturated aryl-substituted analogues. The scaffold can also be lithiated followed by the addition of various electrophiles, which increases the diversification potential substantially, as exemplified with the introduction of halogens, alkyl, acyl, and amide substituents.