Palladium‐Catalyzed Regiodivergent C‐H Olefination of Imidazo[1,2a]pyridine Carboxamide and Unactivated Alkenes.

Despite remarkable successes in linear and branched vinyl (hetero) arene synthesis, regiodivergent C−H olefination with a single catalytic system has remained underdeveloped. Overcoming this limitation, a Pd/MPAA‐catalyzed regiodivergent C−H olefination of imidazo[1,2a] pyridine carboxamides with unactivated terminal alkenes to generate branched and linear olefinated products depending upon the electronic nature of alkenes is reported herein. Moreover, this protocol can be applied for C−H deuteriation of the corresponding heteroarenes with D2O as deuterium source. Preliminary experimental studies combined with computational investigations (DFT studies) suggest that regiodivergent olefination can be controlled by olefin insertion and β‐hydride elimination steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]