1-[3-(3-(Pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-α]pyridin-7-yl]ethanol (53 mg, 0.17 mmol) was suspended in 1,2-dichloroethane (2 ml), manganese(IV) oxide (73 mg, 0.84 mmol) added and the mixture heated at 50° C. for 18 h. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered through Celite®, diluted with 1,2-dichloroethane and pre-adsorbed onto silica. Purification by silica gel chromatography eluting with dichloromethane/methanol/conc. ammonia (98:2:0.2) gave the title compound (44 mg, 85%) as a yellow solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δH 2.69 (3H, s), 7.40-7.48 (2H, m), 7.60-7.73 (3H, m), 7.77 (1H, d, J 1), 7.90-7.95 (2H, m), 8.30 (1H, s), 8.38 (1H, dd, J 1 and 7), 8.65-8.67 (1H, m), 8.91 (1H, s); m/z (ES+) 314 (M++H).
