Microwave mediated facile one-pot synthesis of polyarylpyrroles from but-2-ene- and but-2-yne-1,4-diones

Several pyrrole derivates with multiple aryl substituents were prepared conveniently in a one pot-reaction from but-2-ene-1,4-diones and but-2-yne-1,4-diones via hydrogenation of the carbon–carbon double bond/triple bond followed by amination–cyclization. The reaction could be performed with ammonium formate or alkyl/arylammonium formates under Pd/C in polyethylene glycol-200 (PEG-200) under microwave irradiation. Using this procedure, different aryl-substituted pyrroles were prepared. Furthermore, studies on microwave vs thermal conditions indicate faster heating under microwave conditions was responsible for rate enhancement.