Discovery of antileishmanial hits in the 3-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine series via newly optimized tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) methodology at position 2 Jacquet, I. Paoli-Lombardo, R. Castera-Ducros, C. Pomares, H. /Bourgeade-Delmas, Sandra Vanelle, P. Primas, N. TDAE N-Tosylbenzylimine Leishmania Nitroaromatic compounds Nucleophilic aromatic substitution Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling 3-Nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine To explore the antileishmanial structure-activity relationships at position 2 of the 3-nitroimida-zo[1,2-a]pyridine scaffold, we developed a new synthetic method using Tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) and N-tosylbenzylimines. This original synthetic route was optimized to provide simple and reproducible access to diverse analogues functionalized at position 2. A library of 25 new derivatives was generated via efficient diversification at position 8 using nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. The 8-brominated analogues emerged as the most promising series, with six compounds exhibiting submicromolar activity against Leishmania infantum axenic amastigotes. Further substitution at position 8 with 4-pyridinyl or para-chlorothiophenol groups significantly decreased potency. The most active compound was also active on intramacrophagic amastigotes (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 0.35 mu M) without displaying any cytotoxicity on THP1 cell line (50 % cytotoxic concentration (CC50) > 100 mu M). The reduction of its nitro group afforded an amino analogue, which retained antileishmanial activity (IC50 = 2.77 mu M), indicating potential alternative mechanisms of action beyond nitro bioactivation. Despite its low solubility (<1 mu M), this scaffold represents a novel and versatile entry point for antileishmanial drug discovery. 2026 text https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010096002 fdi:010096002 Jacquet I., Paoli-Lombardo R., Castera-Ducros C., Pomares H., Bourgeade-Delmas Sandra, Vanelle P., Primas N.. Discovery of antileishmanial hits in the 3-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine series via newly optimized tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) methodology at position 2. 2026, 304, 118506 [14 ] EN