Their ready availability from simple starting materials in only
two synthetic steps and their versatility as building blocks for the
construction of highly substituted amines and N-heterocycles renders α-(alkylideneamino)nitriles
useful synthetic intermediates. Herein, short syntheses of tri-
and tetrasubstituted pyrroles including the northern half of the
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin as well as an access to
3-substituted indolizidines will be described.
heterocycles - carbanions - pyrroles - Umpolung - Michael addition