Divergent product selectivity in gold- versus silver-catalyzed reaction of 2-propynyloxy-6-fluoropyridines with arylamines.

A study of the reaction of easily accessible 2-propynyloxy-6-fluoropyridines with arylamines under gold or silver catalysis is described. It has been shown that two types of isomeric oxazolopyridine imine derivatives, which represent unusual heterocyclic motifs, can be selectively obtained in moderate to excellent yields depending on the nature of the metal employed.