One-Pot Assembly of Highly Functionalized Cyclopenta[b]pyrroles via a Calcium(II)- and Copper(II)-Catalyzed Reaction Sequence

A user-friendly, calcium(II)- and copper(II)-catalyzed one-pot reaction sequence to furnish cyclopenta[b]pyrroles with a high level of complexity is depicted. The reaction involves the following sequential transformations: (i) an aza-Piancatelli cyclization, (ii) a hydroamination/isomerization process and (iii) a subsequent Friedel-Crafts-type reaction to afford the desired compounds from readily available 2-furylcarbinols, anilines and secondary alcohols with a minimum of precautions.