Transition-metal-free access to 2-aminopyridine derivatives from 2-fluoropyridine and acetamidine hydrochloride.

Under catalyst-free conditions, an efficient method for the synthesis of 2-aminopyridine derivatives through the nucleophilic substitution and hydrolysis of 2-fluoropyridine and acetamidine hydrochloride has been developed. This amination uses inexpensive acetamidine hydrochloride as the ammonia source and has the advantages of a high yield, high chemoselectivity and wide substrate adaptability. The results suggest that other N-heterocycles containing fluorine substituents can also complete the reaction via these reaction conditions and yield the target products.