Synthesis of 2,3,4-trisubstituted pyrroles via a facile reaction of vinyl azides and tosylmethyl isocyanide

A facile synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles from tosylmethyl isocyanide (TOSMIC) and readily synthesized vinyl azides was developed. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions in the presence of base. 2-Tosyl-substituted pyrroles were obtained in moderate to good isolated yields. Additionally, a base-initiated one-pot pyrrole synthesis also was developed using carboxaldehydes, ethyl 2-azidoacetate, and TOSMIC.