Rearrangements of the [2+2]-cycloadducts of DDQ and 2-ethynylpyrroles

The [2+2]-cycloadducts of DDQ and 2-ethynylpyrroles, upon ethanolysis (reflux, 15 min or room temperature, 24 h), rearrange from bicyclo[4.2.0]octadienediones to bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadienone- and cyclobutenyl-dihydrofuranone moieties in 55–83% yields, the former rearrangement being the major direction. Benzoquinone ring cleavage is regioselective to afford mostly bicyclo[3.2.0]heptadienone-pyrrole ensembles (85–90% selectivity) in 39–78% yields. The only exception is when the starting compounds contain an ethoxycarbonyl substituent and the pyrrole counterpart is a 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole fragment. In this case, the ratio of the rearrangement products is 1:1.2 in a total yield of 83%. An important feature of the dihydrofuranone pathway rearrangement is its 100% diastereoselectivity.