Metal-free annulation of arenes with 2-aminopyridine derivatives: the methyl group as a traceless non-chelating directing group.

A novel annulation reaction between 2-aminopyridine derivatives and arenes under metal-free conditions is described. The presented intermolecular transformation provided straightforward access to the important pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole scaffold under mild reaction conditions. The unprecedented application of the methyl group of methylbenzenes as a traceless, non-chelating, and highly regioselective directing group is reported.