Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Cyclization of Nitroalkenes: Synthesis of Thienopyrroles

In the presence of carbon monoxide, the palladium/phenanthroline system catalyzes the intramolecular amination of thiophene rings following the reduction of a nitroalkene moiety directly attached to the S-heterocyclic ring. Optimization of the ligand and reaction conditions allowed the synthesis of a series of thienopyrroles aryl/ alkyl-substituted at either the 2- or 3-position of the pyrrole ring. By using low pressures of carbon monoxide (5 bars), high yields of fused bicyclic compounds have been obtained (up to 98 % yield).