Magnesium Nitride as a Source of Ammonia for the Paal-Knorr Synthesis of Pyrroles

Significance

Reported is an improvement of the well-known Paal-Knorr protocol for the synthesis of pyrroles from 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds using magnesium nitride as a source of ammonia. The reaction is performed under conventional and ­microwave heating resulting in the products in good to excellent preparative yields. The key point of the procedure is an alcoholysis of Mg₃N₂ generating ammonia in situ gradually.