Synlett 2005(12): 1957-1959  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-871939
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Regioselective Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reactions at the 2-Position of Di- and Tribrominated Pyrroles

Sven Schröter, Thorsten Bach*
Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie I, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85747 Garching, Germany
Fax: +49(89)28913315; e-Mail: thorsten.bach@ch.tum.de;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 26 May 2005
Publication Date:
07 July 2005 (online)

Abstract

The 2,3,4-tribromopyrrole 4 and the 2,3-dibromopyrrole 10 were shown to undergo regioselective Suzuki cross-coupling ­reactions at the 2-position. After optimization best yields in the ­reaction with 4-tert-butylphenyl boronic acid (5a) were 68% and 86%. Other boronic acids 5 were employed in the reaction with pyrrole 4 and gave the monosubstitution products 6 in 33-52% yield. A subsequent cross-coupling at positions C-3 and C-4 could be achieved on 3,4-dibromopyrrole 6a (84% yield).

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Typical Procedure.
A Schlenk flask was charged with tribromopyrrole 4 (188 mg, 0.5 mmol), boronic acid 5a (107 mg, 0.6 mmol), Pd(PPh3)4 (58 mg, 0.05 mmol) and Cs2CO3 (198 mg, 0.6 mmol). The flask was evacuated and flushed with argon (five cycles). Mesitylene (5 mL), EtOH (1 mL) and H2O (1 mL) were added. The flask was once again purged with argon. The reaction mixture was heated to 150 °C and stirred for 20 h. Then, H2O (4 mL) was added and the aqueous layer was extracted with toluene (3 × 5 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with H2O (25 mL) and brine (25 mL) and dried over Na2SO4. After filtration and removal of the solvents the crude product was purified by flash chromatograpy (silica, pentane-Et2O, 3:1) to give pyrrole 6a (142 mg, 0.33 mmol, 66%) as a white solid; mp 162-164 °C. 1H NMR (360 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.36 (s, 9 H), 1.38 (t, 3 J = 7.2 Hz, 3 H), 4.34 (q, 3 J = 7.2 Hz, 2 H), 7.49 (d, 3 J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H), 7.62 (d, 3 J = 8.4 Hz, 2 H), 9.55 (br s, 1 H) ppm. 13C NMR (90.6 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 14.5, 31.4, 35.0, 61.4, 101.1, 108.0, 120.3, 126.0, 127.3, 127.3, 134.0, 152.5, 160.0 ppm. Anal. Calcd for C17H19Br2NO2 (429.15): C, 47.58; H, 4.46; N, 3.26. Found: C, 47.37; H, 4.42; N, 3.09.