Palladium-catalyzed chemoselective monoarylation of hydrazides for the synthesis of [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridines.

An efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridines was exemplified by the synthesis of 20 analogues bearing a variety of substituents at the 3-position. The methodology involves a palladium-catalyzed addition of hydrazides to 2-chloropyridine, which occurs chemoselectively at the terminal nitrogen atom of the hydrazide, followed by dehydration in acetic acid under microwave irradiation.