Imidazopyridine intermediates

A compound of the formula 1

• in which
• R1 is hydrogen, 1-4C-alkyl, 3-7C-cycloalkyl, 3-7C-cycloalkyl-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy, 1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, 2-4C-alkenyl, 2-4C-alkynyl, fluoro-1-4C-alkyl or hydroxy-1-4C-alkyl,
• R2 is hydrogen, 1-4C-alkyl, aryl, 3-7C-cycloalkyl, 3-7C-cycloalkyl-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy-1-4C-alkyl, halogen, 2-4C-alkenyl, 2-4C-alkynyl, fluoro-1-4C-alkyl, cyanomethyl,
• R3a is hydrogen, halogen, fluoro-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkyl, 2-4C-alkenyl, 2-4C-alkynyl, carboxyl, 1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkyl, fluoro-1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkyl or the radical —CO—NR31R32,
• R3b is hydrogen, halogen, fluoro-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkyl, 2-4C-alkenyl, 2-4C-alkynyl, carboxyl, 1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkyl, fluoro-1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkyl or the radical —CO—NR31R32,
• where
• R31 is hydrogen, 1-7C-alkyl, hydroxy-1-4C-alkyl or 1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkyl and
• R32 is hydrogen, 1-7C-alkyl, hydroxy-1-4C-alkyl or 1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkyl,
• or where
• R31 and R32 together, including the nitrogen atom to which both are bonded, are a pyrrolidino, piperidino, piperazino, N-1-4C-alkylpiperazino or morpholino radical,
• Arom is a mono- or bicyclic aromatic radical substituted by R4, R5, R6 and R7, which is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, furanyl (furyl), benzofuranyl (benzofuryl), thiophenyl (thienyl), benzothiophenyl (benzothienyl), thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, quinolinyl and isoquinolinyl,
• where
• R4 is hydrogen, 1-4C-alkyl, hydroxy-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy, 2-4C-alkenyloxy, 1-4C-alkylcarbonyl, carboxyl, 1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, carboxy-1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl-1-4C-alkyl, halogen, hydroxyl, aryl, aryl-1-4C-alkyl, aryloxy, aryl-1-4C-alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino, mono- or di-1-4C-alkylamino, 1-4C-alkylcarbonylamino, 1-4C-alkoxycarbonylamino, 1-4C-alkoxy-1-4C-alkoxycarbonylamino or sulfonyl,
• R5 is hydrogen, 1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy, 1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, trifluoromethyl or hydroxyl,
• R6 is hydrogen, 1-4C-alkyl or halogen and
• R7 is hydrogen, 1-4C-alkyl or halogen,
• where
• aryl is phenyl or substituted phenyl having one, two or three identical or different substituents selected from the group consisting of 1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy, carboxyl, 1-4C-alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, trifluoromethoxy, hydroxyl and cyano,
• or a salt, thereof.