Investigating catalytic pathways: a comparative review of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis for 3-aroylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine synthesis.

3-aroylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines represent a class of derivatives in the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine family known for their important biological and pharmaceutical activities. Consequently, various methodologies have been designed to simplify the synthesis of this structure, with an emphasis on the use of cost-effective starting materials and environmentally friendly protocols. All the methods developed in recent years (from 2016 to 2023) rely on homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts. Therefore, we aim to perform a comparative analysis between these two approaches, elucidating their respective advantages and limitations. The first part of this work focuses on techniques employing homogeneous catalysts, followed by the next section devoted to heterogeneous catalysts. This comprehensive review should be of substantial interest to researchers in the fields of organic and medicinal chemistry, as it provides a valuable resource for their research.