the hypoglycemic agents of the present invention are synthesized by the reaction of a suitable halide with the appropriate heterocyclic ring system , depicted as follows : ## str6 ## wherein r , r 2 , r 1 , r 3 , r 4 , r 5 , r 6 , q , y , z and x are as previously described . transformation of the above - mentioned heterocyclic compounds to quaternary salts is effected by reacting with a halide where x is preferably chloro , bromo or iodo . said reaction can be conducted between equimolar amounts of the two reagents either neat or in the presence of a suitable reaction - inert solvent . when conducted neat a large excess of the halide can be employed , acting under these conditions as both a reactant and solvent . by a reaction - inert solvent is meant one which does not react to any appreciable degree with the product or reactant under the conditions of said reaction . solvents suitable for the solubilizing of the reactants leading to the quaternary compounds can be of a varied nature , and can include ( lower ) alkanols , ( lower ) alkylnitriles , di ( lower ) alkyl ketones , cyclic - and di ( lower ) alkyl ethers and liquid aromatic hydrocarbons . the preferred solvent for this reaction is acetonitrile . reaction time is not critical , and depends on temperature , concentration and inherent reactivity of the reagents . when steam bath temperatures are employed , completion of the reaction usually requires overnight heating . the product is isolated by cooling the reaction mixture to induce crystallization , or initial concentration of the reaction mixture followed by cooling and addition of a second solvent to induce crystallization . further purification of the final product is facilitated by trituration or recrystallization from an appropriate solvent . as mentioned previously , quaternary salt formation is preferably effected wherein x of the alkylating agent is bromo , chloro , or iodo . following isolation of these salts the nature of the x variable can be altered by initially treating an aqueous solution of quaternary halide with an equivalent of silver oxide , followed by separation of the precipitated silver halide and treatment of the aqueous solution of the quaternary base with at least an equivalent of an appropriate acid hx . alternately , the quaternary base can be obtained by passing a solution of a salt through a basic ion - exchange resin column followed by treatment of the eluate with the same or a different acid . in the utilization of the chemotherapeutic activity of those compounds of the present invention which form quaternary salts , it is preferred , of course , to use pharmaceutically acceptable salts . although water - insolubility , toxicity , or lack of crystalline nature may make some particular salt species unsuitable or less desirable for use as such in a given pharmaceutical application , the water insoluble or toxic salts can be converted to the corresponding pharmaceutically acceptable quaternary hydroxide by decomposition of the salt as described above , or alternately they can be converted to any desired pharmaceutically acceptable quaternary salt . examples of pharmaceutically acceptable anions other than the halides are nitrate , sulfate , phosphate , alkanoates , lactate , citrate , tartrate , succinate and maleate . the heterocyclic intermediate leading to the quaternary salts of the present invention are prepared by known procedures or by hereinafter described methods . the halide intermediates are commercial reagents or are synthesized by procedures either taught in chemical literature or familiar to those skilled in the art . as previously mentioned , the quaternary salts are all readily adapted to therapeutic use as oral hypoglycemic agents in view of their ability to lower blood sugar levels of diabetic subjects . toward this end , the preferred compounds are 1 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide , 1 - benzyl - 6 - chloroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide , 1 - benzyl - 8 - benzyloxyimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium , 1 - benzyl - 5 - methoxyimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide , 1 - benzyl - 2 , 3dihydroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide , 1 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 1 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium sulfate , 1 -( 2 - chlorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 1 -( 3 - chlorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide , 1 -( 4 - chlorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 1 -( 2 - chlorobenzyl )- 2 , 3 - dihydroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 1 -( 3 - chlorobenzyl )- 2 , 3 - dihydroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 1 -( 4 - chlorobenzyl )- 2 , 3 - dihydroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 1 -( 4 - bromobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 1 -( 2 - fluorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 1 -( 4 - fluorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide , 1 -( 2 - bromobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide , 1 -( 8 - quinolylmethyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ]- pyridinium bromide , 1 - furfurylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 1 - methyl - 2 -( 4 - chlorophenyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium iodide , 1 - methyl - 2 -( 4 - bromophenyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium iodide , 1 - methyl - 2 -( 4 - methoxyphenyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium iodide , 2 -( 2 - chlorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridinium chloride , 2 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridinium bromide , 1 - phenyl - 2 - methylimidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridinium iodide , 2 - methyl - 3 - phenylimidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridinium iodide , 2 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] quinolinium bromide , 2 -( 2 - chlorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] quinolinium chloride , 2 - benzylpyrrolo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyrazinium bromide , 1 - benzylpyrazolo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridinium bromide , 1 - benzyl - 1h - imidazo [ 2 , 1 - a ] isoquinolinium bromide , 1 -( 2 - chlorobenzyl )- 1h - imidazo [ 2 , 1 - a ] isoquinolinium chloride , 2 - benzylimidazo [ 5 , 1 - a ] isoquinolinium bromide and 2 -( 2 - chlorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 5 , 1 - a ] isoquinolinium chloride . the quaternary salts , which are useful hypoglycemic agents in mammals , can be administered either as individual therapeutic agents or as mixtures of therapeutic agents . they can be administered alone , but are generally administered with a pharmaceutical carrier selected on the basis of the chosen route of administration and standard pharmaceutical practice . for example , they may be combined with various pharmaceutically acceptable carriers in the form of tablets , capsules , lozenges , troches , hard candies , powders , aqueous suspensions or solutions , injectable solutions , elixirs , syrups and the like . such carriers include solid diluents or filters , sterile aqueous media and various nontoxic organic solvents . moreover , the oral pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be suitably sweetened and flavored by means of various agents of the type commonly used for this purpose . the particular carrier selected and the proportion of active ingredient to carrier are influenced by the solubility and chemical nature of the therapeutic compounds , the chosen route of administration and the needs of the standard pharmaceutical practice . for example , where those compounds are administered orally in tablet form , excipients such as lactose , sodium citrate , calcium carbonate and dicalcium phosphate may be used . various disintegrants such as starch , alginic acids , and certain complex silicates , together with lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate , sodium lauryl sulphate and talc , may also be used in producing tablets for the oral administration of these compounds . for oral administration in capsule form , high molecular weight polyethylene glycols are among the preferred materials for use as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers . where aqueous suspensions are to be used for oral administration , the compounds of this invention may be combined with emulsifying or suspending agents . diluents such as ethanol , propylene glycol , glycerine and their combinations may be employed as well as other materials . for purposes of parenteral administration , solutions or suspensions of the instant compounds in sesame or peanut oil or in aqueous propylene glycol solutions can be employed , as well as sterile aqueous solutions described hereinafter . these particular solutions are especially suited for intramuscular and subcutaneous injection purposes . the aqueous solutions dissolved in pure distilled water are also useful for intravenous injection purposes provided that their ph is properly adjusted beforehand . such isolations should also be suitably buffered , if necessary , and the liquid diluent first rendered isotonic with sufficient saline . it is necessary that the active ingredient form a proportion of the composition such that a suitable dosage form will be obtained . obviously , several dosage unit forms may be administered at about the same time . although compositions with less than 0 . 005 percent by weight of active ingredient might be used in certain instances , it is preferred to use compositions containing not less than 0 . 005 percent of the active ingredient ; otherwise the amount of carrier becomes excessively large . activity increases with the concentration of the active ingredient . the composition may contain 10 , 50 , 75 , 95 , or an even higher percentage by weight of the active ingredient . although the use of the present invention is directed toward the treatment of mammals in general , the preferred subject is humans . in determining an efficacious dose for human therapy , results of animal testing are frequently extrapolated and a correlation is assumed between animal test behavior and proposed human dosage . when a commercially employed standard is available , the dose level of the clinical candidate in humans is frequently determined by comparison of its performance with the standard in an animal test . for example , β - phenethylbiguanide is employed as a standard hypoglycemic agent and is administered to humans at the rate of 50 to 150 mg . daily . it is assumed , then , that if compounds of the present invention have activity comparable to β - phenethylbiguanide in the test assay , that similar doses will provide comparable responses in humans . obviously , the physician will ultimately determine the dosage which will be most suitable for a particular individual , and it will vary with the age , weight and response of the particular patient as well as with the nature and extent of the symptoms and the pharmacodynamic characteristics of the particular agent to be administered . generally , small doses will be administered initially , with a gradual increase in the dosage until the optimum level is determined . it will often be found that when the composition is administered orally , larger quantities of the active ingredient will be required to produce the same level as produced by a small quantity administered parenterally . having full regard for the foregoing factors , it is considered that an effective daily dosage of the compounds of the present invention in humans of approximately 50 to 600 mg . per day , with a preferred range of about 50 to 400 mg . per day in single or divided dose , or at about 0 . 07 to 0 . 6 mg ./ kg . of body weight will effectively lower blood sugar levels in human diabetic subjects . these values are illustrative , and there may , of course , be individual cases where higher or lower dose ranges are merited . the following examples are provided solely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be construed as limitations of this invention , many variations of which are possible without departing from the spirit or scope thereof . a mixture of 47 g . of 2 - aminopyridine , 120 g . of a 45 % chloroacetaldehyde solution in water and 50 . 4 g . of sodium bicarbonate in 400 ml . of anhydrous ethanol and 100 ml . of water is heated to reflux for 3 hrs . the reaction mixture is cooled , treated with 900 ml . of water and extracted with diethyl ether ( 3 × 700 ml .). the combined extracts are dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to a brown oil . distillation gives 18 . 8 g . of the desired intermediate as a light yellow oil , b . p . 70 ° c ./ 0 . 02 mm . to 1 . 77 g . of imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine in 40 ml . of acetonitrile is added 3 . 42 g . of α - bromotoluene , and the resulting mixture heated to reflux overnight . the resulting solution is cooled , and the precipitated solids filtered . recrystallization of the crude product from acetonitrile affords the pure product as a white solid , 2 . 33 g ., m . p . 169 °- 171 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 13 n 2 br : c , 58 . 2 ; h , 4 . 5 ; n , 9 . 7 . found : c , 58 . 1 ; h , 4 . 5 ; n , 9 . 7 . starting with imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and the appropriate halide , and employing the procedure of example 1 - b , the following quaternary salts are prepared in the indicated % yield : anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 11 n 2 cl 3 : c , 53 . 6 ; h , 3 . 5 ; n , 8 . 9 . found : c , 53 . 5 ; h , 3 . 6 ; n , 9 . 1 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 11 n 2 cl 3 : c , 53 . 6 ; h , 3 . 5 ; n , 8 . 9 . found : c , 53 . 4 ; h , 3 . 6 ; n , 9 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 15 on 2 cl : c , 65 . 6 ; h , 5 . 5 ; n , 10 . 2 . found : c , 65 . 4 ; h , 5 . 5 ; n , 10 . 2 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 cl 2 : c , 60 . 2 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 10 . 0 . found : c , 60 . 2 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 10 . 2 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 brcl : c , 51 . 9 ; h , 3 . 7 ; n , 8 . 1 . found : c , 52 . 0 ; h , 3 . 7 ; n , 8 . 1 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 cl 2 : c , 60 . 2 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 10 . 0 . found : c , 60 . 4 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 10 . 1 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 12 n 3 br : c , 57 . 3 ; h , 3 . 9 ; n , 13 . 2 . found : c , 57 . 0 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 13 . 1 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 br 2 : c , 45 . 7 ; h , 3 . 3 ; n , 7 . 6 . found : c , 45 . 5 ; h , 3 . 4 ; n , 8 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 brcl : c , 52 . 0 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 8 . 7 . found : c , 52 . 1 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 8 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 clf : c , 64 . 0 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 10 . 7 . found : c , 63 . 6 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 10 . 5 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 brf : c , 54 . 7 ; h , 3 . 9 ; n , 9 . 1 . found : c , 54 . 3 ; h , 4 . 0 ; n , 8 . 9 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 12 n 2 f 3 cl · 1 / 2 h 2 o : c , 56 . 4 ; h , 4 . 1 ; n , 8 . 7 . found : c , 56 . 0 ; h , 4 . 1 ; n , 8 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 20 h 17 n 2 br : c , 65 . 8 ; h , 4 . 7 ; n , 7 . 6 . found : c , 65 . 6 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 7 . 6 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 15 o 2 n 2 sbr : c , 49 . 1 ; h , 4 . 1 ; n , 7 . 6 . found : c , 49 . 1 ; h , 4 . 2 ; n , 7 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 14 o 2 n 3 sbr : c , 45 . 7 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 11 . 4 . found : c , 45 . 3 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 11 . 2 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 17 h 17 o 2 n 2 br · 1 / 4 h 2 o : c , 55 . 6 ; h , 4 . 9 ; n , 7 . 7 . found : c , 55 . 6 ; h , 5 . 1 ; n , 7 . 5 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 16 h 18 n 3 o 2 sbr : c , 48 . 5 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 10 . 6 . found : c , 48 . 4 ; h , 4 . 7 ; n , 10 . 5 . anal . calc [ d for c 18 h 15 n 2 cl : c , 73 . 3 ; h , 5 . 1 ; n , 9 . 5 . found : c , 73 . 5 ; h , 5 . 4 ; n , 9 . 3 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 15 n 2 br : c , 63 . 7 ; h , 4 . 5 ; n , 8 . 3 . found : c , 63 . 8 ; h , 4 . 7 ; n , 8 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 17 h 14 n 3 br : c , 60 . 0 ; h , 4 . 2 ; n , 12 . 4 . found : c , 59 . 7 ; h , 4 . 2 ; n , 12 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 12 h 11 on 2 cl · 1 / 4 h 2 0 : c , 60 . 0 ; h , 5 . 3 ; n , 11 . 7 . found : c , 60 . 2 ; h , 4 . 9 ; n , 11 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 15 n 2 br : c , 59 . 4 ; h , 5 . 0 ; n , 9 . 3 . found : c , 59 . 5 ; h , 5 . 1 ; n , 9 . 1 . employing the procedure of example 1 - b , and starting with imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and the appropriate halide , the following quaternary salts are synthesized : 1 -( 2 , 3 - dichlorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride ; 1 -( 3 , 5 - dichlorobenzyl ) imadazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride ; 1 -( 3 , 4 - dichlorobenzyl )- imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide ; 1 -( 2 - methoxybenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide ; 1 -( 3 - methoxybenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride ; 1 -( 3 - cyanobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium iodide ; 1 -( 3 - bromobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide ; 1 -( 3 - fluorobenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide ; 1 -( 3 - phenylbenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride ; 1 -( 3 - sulfamoylbenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride ; 1 -( 2 - methylsulfonylbenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium chloride ; 1 -( 4 - trifluoromethylbenzyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide ; and 1 -( 3 - furfuryl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide . a mixture of 72 . 5 g . of 2 - aminopyridine and 67 . 0 g . of 2 - chloroethanol is heated at 110 ° for 52 hrs . the mixture is cooled to room temperature and is then treated with water and sufficient solid carbonate to give ph 8 . chloroform ( 200 ml .) is added and the two - phase system heated until a solution results . the aqueous layer is separated , washed again with chloroform ( 2 × 100 ml .) and subsequently concentrated to dryness . the residue from the aqueous layer is extracted with ethanol . the insolubles are filtered and the ethanol filtrate is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight . the precipitated solids , comprising 30 . 5 g . of the product , 1 -( 2 - hydroxyethyl )- 2 - aminopyridinium chloride are filtered . evaporation of the filtrate to half volume provides an additional 31 . 4 g . of the desired material , m . p . 146 °- 149 ° c . fifty grams of the above - mentioned 1 -( 2 - hydroxyethyl )- 2 - aminopyridinium chloride is converted into 41 . 0 g ., m . p . 178 °- 180 ° c ., of the desired product as the hydrobromide salt following the procedure of burton , et al ., j . chem . soc . ( perkins ), ( 1972 ), 1940 . sixteen grams of the hydrobromide salt in 100 ml . of water is treated with 20 ml . of 20 % ( w / v ) aqueous sodium hydroxide solution . the resulting solution is concentrated in vacuo to a low volume and extracted with benzene . the benzene layer is separated , dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to 8 . 75 g . of a yellow oil which crystallizes to a low melting solid . to 2 . 0 g . of 2 , 3 - dihydroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine in 40 ml . of dry acetonitrile is added 3 . 42 g . of α - bromotoluene and the resulting mixture heated to reflux overnight . the solution is cooled to room temperature and treated with 30 ml . of diethyl ether . the precipitated solid is filtered and recrystallized from acetonitrile , 1 . 64 g ., m . p . 143 °- 145 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 15 n 2 br : c , 57 . 8 ; h , 5 . 2 ; n , 9 . 6 . found : c , 57 . 6 ; h , 5 . 0 ; n , 9 . 6 . starting with 2 , 3 - dihydroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and the requisite halide , and employing the procedure of example 4 - b , the following compounds are prepared : anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 14 n 2 cl 2 : c , 59 . 8 ; h , 5 . 0 ; n , 10 . 0 . found : c , 59 . 7 ; h , 5 . 1 ; n , 9 . 9 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 13 n 2 cl 3 : c , 53 . 3 ; h , 4 . 2 ; n , 8 . 9 . found : c , 53 . 2 ; h , 4 . 1 ; n , 9 . 1 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 13 n 2 cl 3 : c , 53 . 3 ; h , 4 . 2 ; n , 8 . 9 . found : c , 53 . 0 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 9 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 14 n 2 cl 2 : c , 59 . 8 ; h , 5 . 0 ; n , 10 . 0 . found : c , 59 . 7 ; h , 5 . 0 ; n , 10 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 14 n 2 cl 2 . 1 / 2 h 2 o : c , 57 . 9 ; h , 5 . 2 ; n , 9 . 7 . found : c , 57 . 6 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 9 . 6 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 17 on 2 cl . 1 / 2 h 2 o : c , 63 . 1 ; h , 6 . 3 ; n , 9 . 8 . found : c , 62 . 8 ; h , 6 . 1 ; n , 9 . 9 . employing the procedure of example 4 - b and starting with the 2 , 3 - dihydroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and the appropriate halide , the following quaternary salts are synthesized : ## str7 ## a solution of 2 . 3 g . of 6 - chloroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and 3 . 42 g . of α - bromotoluene in 40 ml . of dry acetonitrile is heated at reflux temperatures overnight . the solution is cooled and 35 ml . of diethyl ether added . the precipitated solids are collected and twice recrystallized from isopropanoldiethyl ether , 3 . 8 g ., m . p . 193 °- 195 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 clbr : c , 52 . 0 ; h , 3 . 7 ; n , 8 . 7 . found : c , 52 . 0 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 8 . 8 . the procedure of example 7 is repeated , starting with the requisite reagents , to give the following quaternary salts : anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 11 n 2 cl 3 : c , 53 . 6 ; h , 3 . 5 ; n , 8 . 9 . found : c , 53 . 6 ; h , 3 . 6 ; n , 8 . 8 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 10 n 2 cl 4 · h 2 o : c , 45 . 9 ; h , 3 . 3 ; n , 7 . 7 . found : c , 45 . 7 ; h , 3 . 7 ; n , 7 . 2 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 21 h 19 n 2 obr : c , 63 . 8 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 7 . 1 . found : c , 64 . 0 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 7 . 1 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 21 h 18 on 2 cl 2 · 1 / 2 h 2 o : c , 64 . 0 ; h , 4 . 9 ; n , 7 . 1 . found : c , 63 . 8 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 7 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 21 h 17 on 2 cl 3 : c , 57 . 6 ; h , 4 . 4 ; n , 6 . 4 . found : c , 57 . 4 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 6 . 3 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 brcl : c , 52 . 0 ; h , 3 . 7 ; n , 8 . 7 . found : c , 51 . 7 ; h , 3 . 7 ; n , 8 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 11 n 2 cl 3 : c , 53 . 6 ; h , 3 . 5 ; n , 8 . 9 . found : c , 53 . 3 ; h , 3 . 5 ; n , 9 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 10 n 2 cl 4 : c , 48 . 3 ; h , 2 . 9 ; n , 8 . 1 . found : c , 48 . 3 ; h , 3 . 1 ; n , 8 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 21 h 19 on 2 br : c , 63 . 8 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 7 . 1 . found : c , 63 . 8 ; h , 4 . 9 ; n , 7 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 15 on 2 br : c , 56 . 4 ; h , 4 . 7 ; n , 8 . 8 . found : c , 56 . 8 ; h , 5 . 0 ; n , 9 . 0 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 14 on 2 cl 2 : c , 58 . 3 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 7 . 1 . found : c , 58 . 2 ; h , 4 . 7 ; n , 9 . 3 . the procedure of example 7 is repeated , starting with the appropriate substituted imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and halide , to provide the following quaternary salt : ______________________________________ ## str8 ## r . sub . 1 r . sub . 3 x______________________________________6 - cl 2 - fc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl6 - cl 4 - ncc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl6 - cl 2 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br8 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 , 5 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 cl8 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br8 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 - cf . sub . 3 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl8 - φch . sub . 2 o 4 - φc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br5 - ch . sub . 3 o 3 - cf . sub . 3 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl5 - ch . sub . 3 o 3 - ncc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 i5 - ch . sub . 3 o 4 -( ch . sub . 3 ). sub . 2 nso . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br5 - ch . sub . 3 o 4 - ch . sub . 3 oc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl5 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl5 - φch . sub . 2 o 4 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br5 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 - ch . sub . 3 oc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl5 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 , 5 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 cl5 - φch . sub . 2 o 4 - fc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br7 - cl c . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 cl7 - cl 2 , 4 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 cl7 - cl 3 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br7 - cl 3 - ncc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 i7 - cl 4 - φc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br6 - φch . sub . 2 o 2 - fc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl6 - φch . sub . 2 o 2 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br6 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 - φc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl6 - φch . sub . 2 o β - naphthylmethyl - br______________________________________ a mixture of 1 . 89 g . of 2 , 3 - dihydro - 6 , 8 - dichloroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and 4 . 89 g . of 2 , 4 - dichlorobenzyl chloride in 75 ml . of dry acetonitrile is heated at reflux temperatures overnight . diethyl ether ( 35 ml .) is added to the cooled reaction mixture , and the resulting precipitated solids filtered and dried . the desired product is further purified by recrystallization from acetonitrile . starting with the requisite dihydroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and appropriate halide , and employing the procedure of example 10 , the following quaternary salts are prepared : ______________________________________ ## str9 ## r . sub . 1 r . sub . 3 x______________________________________6 - cl 2 - fc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl6 - cl 2 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br8 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br8 - φch . sub . 2 o 4 - φc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br5 - ch . sub . 3 o 3 - ncc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 i5 - ch . sub . 3 o 4 - ch . sub . 3 oc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl5 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 - ch . sub . 3 oc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl5 - φch . sub . 2 o 3 , 5 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 cl5 - φch . sub . 2 o 4 - fc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br7 - cl c . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 cl7 - cl 3 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br7 - cl 4 - φc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br6 - φch . sub . 2 o 2 - fc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl6 - φch . sub . 2 o 2 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br6 - φch . sub . 2 o β - naphthylmethyl - brandr . sub . 1 r . sub . 2 x______________________________________5 - cl 8 - quinolylmethyl - cl7 - cl 3 - furfuryl - br______________________________________ a mixture of 25 . 2 g . of sodium bicarbonate , 12 . 3 g . of 2 - aminopyridine and 30 g . of α - bromo - p - methoxyacetophenone in 100 ml . of water and 550 ml . of absolute ethanol is heated at reflux temperatures for 1 . 5 hrs . the reaction mixture is concentrated under reduced pressure to a yellow solid , which is partitioned between chloroform and water . the organic layer is separated , dried over sodium sulfate . removal of the chloroform in vacuo leaves the crude intermediate as a yellow solid . recrystallization from ethanol - water give 15 . 2 g . of the desired material , m . p . 131 °- 134 ° c . to 2 . 23 g . of 2 -( 4 - methoxyphenyl ) imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine in 50 ml . of acetonitrile is added 2 . 84 g . of methyl iodide , and the resulting reaction mixture refluxed for 3 hrs . additional methyl iodide ( 2 ml .) is added and reflux continued for one hour . the solids which precipitate on cooling are filtered and partially dissolved in boiling isopropanol and filtered . the isopropanol filtrate is cooled and treated with diethyl ether . the crystallized product is filtered and dried to give 1 . 03 g ., m . p . 194 °- 196 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 15 n 2 oi : c , 49 . 2 ; h , 4 . 1 ; n , 7 . 7 . found : c , 48 . 9 ; h , 4 . 2 ; n , 7 . 7 . employing the procedure of example 12 - b , and starting with the appropriate 2 - phenylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and methyl halide , the following compounds are synthesized : anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 bri : c , 40 . 5 ; h , 2 . 9 ; n , 6 . 8 . found : c , 40 . 5 ; h , 3 . 0 ; n , 6 . 8 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 15 h 15 n 2 i : c , 51 . 4 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 8 . 0 . found : c , 51 . 6 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 8 . 1 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 cli : c , 45 . 4 ; h , 3 . 3 ; n , 7 . 6 . found : c , 45 . 9 ; h , 3 . 4 ; n , 7 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 11 n 2 cl 2 i : c , 41 . 5 ; h , 2 . 7 ; n , 6 . 9 . found : c , 41 . 6 ; h , 2 . 8 ; n , 6 . 7 . a mixture of 32 . 4 g . of 2 - aminomethylpyridine and 96 ml . of 97 % formic acid is heated under reflux for 3 . 5 hrs . the resulting solution is subjected to vacuum distillation , the desired product being isolated as the fraction boiling at 120 ° c /. 03 mm , 37 . 3 g . the product which is isolated as a yellow oil crystallized to a solid having a melting point at about room temperature . to 13 . 6 g . of 2 - formamidomethylpyridine in a round - bottom flask is added 25 ml . of phosphorous oxychloride . following the exothermic reaction , the reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature , and quenched on crushed ice . the aqueous mixture is treated with sufficient 20 % aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to provide a ph of 9 - 10 , and the liberated product extracted into chloroform ( 3 × 300 ml .). the extracts are combined , dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to a light brown oil , 14 . 0 g . imidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridine ( 3 . 9 g .) in 100 ml . of dry acetonitrile is treated with 6 . 8 g of α - bromotoluene , and the resulting reaction mixture heated under reflux for 3 hrs . the solution is cooled and diluted with 250 ml . of diethyl ether . the resulting precipitate is filtered and recrystallized from isopropanol - diethyl ether , 7 . 92 g ., m . p . 172 °- 176 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 13 n 2 br : c , 58 . 2 ; h , 4 . 5 ; n , 9 . 7 . found : c , 58 . 3 , h , 4 . 7 ; n , 9 . 7 . the procedure of example 14 - c is repeated , starting with the appropriate halide and imidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridine , to provide the indicated quaternary compounds : anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 cl 2 : c , 60 . 2 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 10 . 0 . found : c , 60 . 0 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 9 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 11 n 2 cl 3 . 1 / 4 h 2 o : c , 52 . 9 ; h , 3 . 6 ; n , 8 . 8 . found : c , 53 . 0 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 8 . 6 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 8 h 9 n 2 i : c , 36 . 9 ; h , 3 . 5 ; n , 10 . 8 . found : c , 37 . 1 ; h , 3 . 6 ; n , 10 . 9 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 13 n 2 i . ch 3 cn : c , 51 . 0 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 11 . 1 . found : c , 50 . 9 ; h , 4 . 4 ; n , 10 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 13 n 2 i : c , 50 . 0 ; h , 3 . 9 ; n , 8 . 3 . found : c , 50 . 1 ; h , 4 . 0 ; n , 8 . 3 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 15 n 2 br : c , 63 . 7 ; h , 4 . 5 ; n , 8 . 3 . found : c , 63 . 4 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 8 . 2 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 14 n 2 cl 2 : c , 65 . 7 ; h , 4 . 3 ; n , 8 . 5 . found : c , 65 . 3 ; h , 4 . 2 ; n , 8 . 8 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 13 n 2 cl 3 ; c , 59 . 5 ; h , 3 . 6 ; n , 7 . 7 . found : c , 59 . 3 ; h , 3 . 9 ; n , 7 . 8 . the process of example 14 - c is again repeated employing as starting reagents the requisite halide and imidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridine or - quinoline , to provide the following products : ______________________________________ ## str10 ## r . sub . 4 r . sub . 5 r . sub . 6 x______________________________________4 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 h h cl3 , 4 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 h h cl2 , 6 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 h h clc . sub . 2 h . sub . 5 h φ in - c . sub . 3 h . sub . 7 h φ brc . sub . 2 h . sub . 5 φ h ii - c . sub . 3 h . sub . 7 φ h ic . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 φ h br4 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 φ h cl3 , 5 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 φ h cl2 , 4 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 φ h cl2 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 φ h cl2 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 h φ cl3 , 4 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 h φ clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 h φ br3 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 h φ cland ## str11 ## r . sub . 4 r . sub . 5 r . sub . 6 x______________________________________4 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 h h cl2 , 6 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 h h cl3 , 5 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 h h clch . sub . 3 φ h ic . sub . 2 h . sub . 5 φ h bri - c . sub . 3 h . sub . 7 φ h brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 φ h cl4 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 φ h cl2 , 4 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 φ h clch . sub . 3 h φ in - c . sub . 3 h . sub . 7 h φ brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 h φ br3 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 h φ cl4 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 h φ cl3 , 5 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 h φ cl______________________________________ a solution of 600 mg . of imidazo [ 2 , 1 - a ] isoquinoline and 610 mg . of α - bromotoluene in 25 ml . of acetonitrile is heated under reflux for two days . the reaction mixture is subsequently cooled and diluted with diethyl ether . the resulting precipitate is recrystallized from isopropanol - diethyl ether and then twice from isopropanol to give 570 mg . m . p . 247 °- 249 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 15 n 2 br : c , 63 . 7 ; h , 4 . 5 ; n , 8 . 3 . found : c , 63 . 6 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 8 . 3 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 14 n 2 cl 2 . h 2 o : c , 62 . 3 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 8 . 1 . found : c , 62 . 0 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 8 . 0 . following the general procedure of example 17 , 1 . 68 g . of imidazo [ 5 , 1 - a ] isoquinoline and 2 . 05 g . of α - bromotoluene in 50 ml . of acetonitrile is heated at reflux temperature overnight . diethyl ether ( 25 ml .) is added to the cooled reaction mixture and the resulting solids filtered . recrystallization from isopropanol - diethyl ether provides 2 . 7 g . of the purified product , m . p . 231 °- 234 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 15 n 2 br : c , 63 . 7 ; h , 4 . 5 ; n , 8 . 3 . found : c , 63 . 6 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 8 . 1 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 14 n 2 cl 2 · 1 / 4 h 2 o : c , 64 . 8 ; h , 4 . 4 ; n , 8 . 4 . found : c , 64 . 6 ; h , 4 . 4 ; n , 8 . 2 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 13 n 2 cl 3 · 1 / 4 h 2 o : c , 58 . 7 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 7 . 6 . found : c , 58 . 8 ; h , 3 . 8 ; n , 7 . 5 . pyrazolo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridine ( 1 . 0 g .) and 2 . 05 g . of α - bromotoluene in 30 ml . of acetonitrile are heated under reflux overnight . the reaction mixture is cooled and diluted with 50 ml . of diethyl ether . the oil which initially separated from solution crystallizes on stirring , and is subsequently recrystallized from isopropanol - diethyl ether , 1 . 3 g . m . p . 135 °- 138 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 13 n 2 br : c , 58 . 2 ; h , 4 . 5 ; n , 9 . 7 . found : c , 58 . 3 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 9 . 6 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 cl 2 · h 2 o : c , 56 . 6 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 9 . 4 . found : c , 55 . 9 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 9 . 3 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 11 n 2 cl 3 · h 2 o : c , 50 . 7 ; h , 4 . 0 ; n , 8 . 5 . a reaction mixture comprising 2 . 0 g . of pyrrolo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyrazine and 4 . 27 g . of α - bromotoluene in 50 ml . of dry acetonitrile is stirred at room temperature overnight . diethyl ether ( 50 ml .) is added to the suspension and the solids filtered . recrystallization from isopropanol - diethyl ether gives 3 . 48 g . of the purified product , m . p . 173 °- 177 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 13 n 2 br : c , 58 . 2 ; h , 4 . 5 ; n , 9 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 12 n 2 cl 2 · 1 / 2 h 2 o : c , 58 . 4 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 9 . 7 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 11 n 2 cl 3 · 1 / 4 h 2 o : c , 52 . 9 ; h , 3 . 6 ; n , 8 . 8 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 15 n 2 br · h 2 o : c , 60 . 5 ; h , 4 . 8 ; n , 7 . 8 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 14 n 2 cl 2 · 1 / 4 h 2 o : c , 64 . 8 ; h , 4 . 4 ; n , 8 . 4 . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 18 h 14 n 2 cl 2 · 3 / 4 h 2 o : c , 63 . 1 ; h , 4 . 6 ; n , 8 . 2 . following the procedure of example 20 , and starting with the appropriate halide and heterocyclic base , the indicated quaternary compounds are prepared : an ion exchange column approximately 1 &# 34 ; × 24 &# 34 ; is packed with amberlite 1r 400 in 2n aqueous sodium hydroxide solution . the column is thoroughly washed successively with 3 l . of 1n aqueous sodium hydroxide , 3 l . 5n aqueous sodium hydroxide , 2 l . 2 . 5n aqueous sodium hydroxide , and 3 l . 5n aqueous sodium hydroxide . the column is then washed with dionized water until the washings are neutral to ph paper . one gram of 1 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide dissolved in water is passed through the prepared column . deonized water is then passed through the column until all basic fractions ( via ph paper ) have been collected . to the combined basic fractions is added 10 ml . of acetic acid and the resulting solution concentrated to dryness in vacuo . the resulting oil crystallizes when triturated with isopropanol - ethyl acetate . the acetate salt is very hydroscopic . as in the description for the preparation of the acetate salt , 1 g . of 1 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide dissolved in water is passed through the aforementioned prepared column , the basic fractions resulting from the dionized water washes being collected ( 50 ml .). to these combined basic fractions is added 170 mg . of sulfuric acid and the resulting solution concentrated under reduced pressure to dryness , 680 mg ., m . p . 257 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 28 h 26 n 4 o 4 s : c , 65 . 4 ; h , 5 . 1 ; n , 10 . 9 . employing the same general procedure , 850 mg . of 1 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide gave 870 mg . of the corresponding iodide salt , m . p . 134 °- 136 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 14 h 13 n 2 i : c , 50 . 0 ; h , 3 . 9 ; n , 8 . 3 . employing the same procedure , 850 mg . of 1 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide gave 850 mg . of the corresponding tosylate salt , m . p . 156 °- 158 ° c . anal . calc &# 39 ; d for c 21 h 20 o 3 n 2 s : c , 66 . 3 ; h , 5 . 3 ; n , 7 . 4 . the hypoglycemic testing of the compounds of the present invention is carried out by a standard procedure , and comprises grouping eight , hartley strain , male guinea pigs which have been fasted 18 - 24 hrs . in each group . blood samples are obtained from the pentobarbital - anesthetized animals by cardiac puncture . each of the eight animals is dosed i . p . with a given dose of the test compound . blood samples are taken 1 , 2 , and 4 hours following the dozing , and the venous blood diluted 1 : 10 with saline and assayed for blood sugar levels on an auto - analyzer , the levels being expressed as mg .%. the activity for the test compound is expressed as the percent lowering of the blood sugar at the 1 , 2 , and 4 hr . when compared with the blood sugar level of a group of eight control animals which have been similarly dosed with a saline solution . the following representative quaternary salts were tested as hypoglycemic agents following the above mentioned procedure , and found to be active at the indicated dose level . ______________________________________ ## str12 ## % fall blood dose sugar levelr . sub . 1 r . sub . 3 x mg ./ kg . t . sub . 1 t . sub . 2 t . sub . 4______________________________________h c . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 i 30 18 55 65h 2 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl 25 14 27 57h 2 , 6 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 cl 50 4 16 49h 4 - ch . sub . 3 oc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl 50 19 51 60h 4 - fc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br 50 33 70 89h 4 - brc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br 50 51 84 -- h 3 - cf . sub . 3 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl 50 10 25 80h 4 - φc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 br 50 45 53 46h c . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 ch . sub . 2 br 50 37 75 805 - ch . sub . 3 o c . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 br 50 31 70 868 - φch . sub . 2 o 2 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl 50 17 70 -- 6 - cl 2 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 cl 50 5 32 35andr . sub . 1 r . sub . 2______________________________________h 2 - furfuryl - cl 50 38 71 67h 8 - quinolylmethyl - br 50 14 68 86______________________________________ ______________________________________ ## str13 ## % fall blood dose , sugar levelr . sub . 4 r . sub . 5 r . sub . 6 x mg ./ kg . t . sub . 1 t . sub . 2 t . sub . 4______________________________________c . sub . 6 h . sub . 5 ch . sub . 2 h h br 18 17 63 722 , 4 - cl . sub . 2 c . sub . 6 h . sub . 3 ch . sub . 2 h h cl 25 7 14 282 - clc . sub . 6 h . sub . 4 ch . sub . 2 h h cl 18 13 41 67______________________________________ ______________________________________ ## str14 ## % fall blood dose , sugar levelq z x mg ./ kg . t . sub . 1 t . sub . 2 t . sub . 4______________________________________h h br 50 21 25 80cl cl cl 50 0 3 20______________________________________ ______________________________________ ## str15 ## % fall blood dose , sugar levelq z x mg ./ kg . t . sub . 1 t . sub . 2 t . sub . 4______________________________________cl h cl 18 7 13 14h h br 50 31 59 86______________________________________ ______________________________________ ## str16 ## % fall blood dose , sugar levelq z x mg ./ kg . t . sub . 1 t . sub . 2 t . sub . 4______________________________________h h br 50 18 62 86______________________________________ ______________________________________ ## str17 ## % fall blood dose , sugar levelq z x mg ./ kg . t . sub . 1 t . sub . 2 t . sub . 4______________________________________cl cl cl 50 9 21 46h h cl 50 10 62 64cl h cl 50 13 33 31______________________________________ ______________________________________ ## str18 ## % fall blood dose , sugar levelz y x mg ./ kg t . sub . 1 t . sub . 2 t . sub . 4______________________________________cl cl i 50 0 16 43h cl i 50 18 68 90h br i 50 14 53 70h ch . sub . 3 o i 50 23 53 52h h br 18 8 32 78 ## str19 ## 18 4 13 40______________________________________ the known compound , 1 - benzyl - 2 - methylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide , reported by bradsher , et . al ., j . heterocyclic chem ., 2 , 331 ( 1965 ), is compared with the desmethyl homolog of the present invention by the hypoglycemic testing procedure of example 23 . the results are as follows : ______________________________________ % fall - blood sugarlevel ## str20 ## ## str21 ## dose , mg ./ kg . t . sub . 1 t . sub . 2 t . sub . 4 t . sub . 1 t . sub . 2 t . sub . 4______________________________________18 2 5 0 9 39 6025 4 14 40 15 49 8050 21 52 63 40 84 90 * ______________________________________ * only one animal surviving the results indicate that the 1 - benzylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium of the present invention is superior to the known compound in hypoglycemic activity . it is further noted that while the compound of the instant invention is active at 18 mg ./ kg ., the hypolycemic activity of 1 - benzyl - 2 - methylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridinium bromide is indistinguishable from the control group . a mixture of 47 g . of 2 - aminopyridine , 120 g . of 45 % chloroacetaldehyde solution in water and 50 . 4 g of sodium bicarbonate in 400 ml . of anhydrous ethanol and 100 ml . of water is heated to reflux for 3 hrs . the reaction mixture is cooled , treated with 900 ml . of water and extracted with diethyl ether ( 3 × 700 ml .). the combined extracts are dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to a brown oil . distillation gives 18 . 8 g of the desired intermediate as a light yellow oil , b . p . 70 ° c . / 0 . 02 mm . b . employing the general procedure of preparation a - ia and starting with the appropriate aminopyridine and chloroacetaldehyde or an acetal thereof , the following intermediate imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridines are prepared : a mixture of 8 . 08 g . of 5 - chloroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and 5 . 4 g . of sodium methoxide in 100 ml . of dimethylformamide is allowed to stir at room temperature overnight . the reaction mixture is poured on to 800 ml . of ice and water and extracted with chloroform ( 3 × 100 ml .). the chloroform extracts are combined , dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to an oil . the oil is subsequently dissolved in ethylacetate and treated with sufficient hydrogen chloride in ethyl acetate to completely convert to free base to the hydrochloride salt , which is filtered and dried , 8 . 0 g ., m . p . 175 °- 177 ° c . an aqueous solution of 5 . 55 g . of 5 - methoxyimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine hydrochloride is made strongly basic by the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide . the cloudy solution is extracted with methylene chloride ( 4 × 75 ml .) and the extracts combined and dried over sodium sulfate . removal of the solvent leaves 5 - methoxyimidazole [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine as a yellow oil , 4 . 5 g . d . starting with the appropriate halo substituted imidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine and alkoxide and employing the procedure of preparation ai - c , the following intermediates are synthesized : a mixture of 72 . 5 g . of 2 - aminopyridine and 67 . 0 g . of 2 - chloroethanol is heated at 110 ° for 52 hrs . the mixture is cooled to room temperature and is then treated with water and sufficient solid sodium carbonate to give ph 8 . chloroform ( 200 ml .) is added and the two - phase system heated until a solution results . the aqueous layer is separated , washed again with chloroform ( 2 × 100 ml .) and subsequently concentrated to dryness . the residue from the aqueous layer is extracted with ethanol . the insolubles are filtered and the ethanol filtrate is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight . the precipitated solids , comprising 30 . 5 g . of the product , 1 -( 2 - hydroxyethyl )- 2 - aminopyridinium chloride are filtered . evaporation of the filtrate to half volume provides an additional 31 . 4 g . of the desired material , m . p . 146 °- 149 ° c . fifty grams of the above - mentioned 1 -( 2 - hydroxyethyl )- 2 - aminopyridinium chloride is converted into 41 . 0 g . m . p . 178 °- 180 ° c ., of the desired product as the hydrobromide salt following the procedure of burton , et al ., j . chem . soc . ( perkins ), ( 1972 ), 1940 . sixteen grams of the hydrobromide salt in 100 ml . of water is treated with 20 ml . of 20 % ( w / v ) aqueous sodium hydroxide solution . the resulting solution is concentrated in vacuo to a low volume and extracted with benzene . the benzene layer is separated , dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to 8 . 75 g . of a yellow oil which crystallizes to a low melting solid . f . following the procedure of preparation ai - e and starting with the appropriate aminopyridine , the indicated intermediate 2 , 3 - dihydroimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridine compounds are prepared : a reaction mixture comprising 25 . 2 g . of sodium bicarbonate , 18 . 84 g . of 2 - aminopyridine and 44 . 7 g . of 2 , 2 &# 39 ;, 4 - trichloroacetophenone in 100 ml . of water and 550 ml . of ethanol is heated to reflux for 18 hrs . the mixture is coded and concentrated under reduced pressure to a mixture of crystals and an oil . the residual material is partitioned between water and chloroform , and the water layer subsequently separated and washed with fresh chloroform ( 2 × 100 ml .). all the chloroform extracts are combined , dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo . the residue is taken up in a minimum amount of ethyl acetate from which it crystallizes on standing , 1 . 245 g ., m . p . 174 °- 177 ° c . h . starting with the requisite acetophenone and 2 - aminopyridine and repeating the procedure of preparation ai - g , the following intermediate 2 - arylimidazo [ 1 , 2 - a ] pyridines are prepared : a mixture of 32 . 4 g . of 2 - aminomethylpyridine and 96 ml . of 97 % formic acid is heated under reflux for 3 . 5 hrs . the resulting solution is subjected to vacuum distillation , the desired product , 2 - formamidomethylpyridine , being isolated as a yellow oil crystallizes to a solid having a melting point at about room temperature . to 13 . 6 g . of 2 - formamidomethylpyridine in a round - bottom flask is added 25 ml . of phosphorous oxychloride . following the exothermic reaction , the reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature , and quenched on crushed ice . the aqueous mixture is treated with sufficient 20 % aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to provide a ph of 9 - 10 , and the liberated product extracted into chloroform ( 3 × 300 ml .). the extracts are combined , dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give imidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] pyridine as a light brown oil , 14 . 0 g . b . the procedure of preparation aii - a is repeated starting with the appropriate reagents to provide the following intermediates : a solution of 7 . 7 g . of 2 - cyanoquinoline in 100 ml . of acetic acid is treated with 500 mg . of 5 % palladium - on - carbon , and the resulting mixture shaken in a hydrogen atmosphere at room temperature at an initial pressure of 50 psi . when the theoretical amount of hydrogen had been taken up , the catalyst is filtered and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo to a brown oil . water is added to the residue and rendered basic by the addition of 1n aqueous sodium hydroxide . the product , 2 - aminomethylquinoline , is extracted into benzene . the benzene extracts are combined , dried and concentrated to an oil , which is used without further purification . following the procedure of preparation aiii - a , 7 . 92 g . of 2 - aminomethylquinoline is formylated with 50 ml . of 97 % formic acid to give 5 . 97 g . of 2 - formamidomethylquinoline , m . p . 108 - 114 ° c . treatment of 1 . 86 g . of 2 - formamidomethylquinoline with 15 ml . of phosphorous oxychloride as in preparation aiii - a gave imidazo [ 1 , 5 - a ] quinoline , which is used without purification . the procedure of zimmer , et al ., tet . letters , # 24 , 2805 ( 1968 ), is employed for the synthesis of this intermediate . the procedure of d . dunham , ph . d . thesis , ohio university , athens , oh , is employed for the preparation of this intermediate . the procedure of d . dunham , ph . d . thesis , ohio university , athens , oh , is employed for the synthesis of this intermediate . the procedure as taught by cheeseman , et al ., j . chem . soc ., 852 ( 1966 ) is employed for the synthesis of this intermediate . the benzyl halides employed as intermediates leading to the claimed compounds are commercially available , or can be prepared by processes in the chemical literature such as those taught by wagner and zook &# 34 ; synthetic organic chemistry ,&# 34 ; john wiley and sons , new york , 1953 , pp . 88 - 147 . these halide intermediates are commercial materials or are synthesized by known preparatory procedures such as those taught in the aforementioned wagner and zook reference .