Dimethylformamide → 8-Chloro-2-(3-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-alpha]pyridine-3-carbaldehyde

N,N-Dimethylformamide (30 mL) was cooled to 0° C. and treated with phosphorous oxychloride (1.08 mL, 11.6 mmol). After the addition was complete, the mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 10 minutes. To this was added 8-chloro-2-(3-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-α]pyridine (2.0 g, 7.75 mmol) and the resulting solution was stirred for 48 hours. Water was added to the reaction. The solids were then filtered and azeoptroped with methanol to give 8-chloro-2-(3-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-α]pyridine-3-carbaldehyde (2.2 g, 99%) as a white solid.