Synfacts 2008(11): 1149-1149  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1083483
Synthesis of Heterocycles
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Synthesis of 2,5-Dihydro-(1H)-pyrrol-2-ones from Pyruvate, Aldehydes and Anilines

Contributor(s): Victor Snieckus, Dmitry N. Korolev
X. Li, H. Deng*, S. Luo*, J.-P. Cheng*
Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing and Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. of China
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 October 2008 (online)

Significance

Reported is a protocol for the synthesis of 2,5-dihydro-(1H)-pyrroles by a three-component condensation of ethyl pyruvate, aldehydes and anilines. The reaction is effectively promoted by a hydrogen-bonding catalyst, for example several ureas and organophosphoric acids, to give the products in good to excellent preparative yields. The screening of reaction conditions including catalysts, solvents, presence of dehydrating agents and influence of substrates was performed in detail. Unfortunately, attempts to use various chiral catalysts resulted in only moderate enantioinduction (ee ≤ 44%).