Total synthesis of pentosidine.

Pentosidine, a biologically important advanced glycation endproduct, has been accessed in a rapid, high-yielding manner. The synthesis was accomplished via a six-step sequence starting with 3-amino-2-chloropyridine and features a palladium-catalyzed tandem cross-coupling/cyclization to construct the imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine core.