Novel synthesis of the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazocine ring system via a Dieckmann condensation

A novel four-step synthesis to the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazocine ring system is described. 1H-Pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde was alkylated with ethyl or methyl bromoacetate and the resulting ethyl or methyl (2-formyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)acetates oxidised with potassium permanganate to the corresponding 1-[(2-ethoxy or methoxy)-2-oxoethyl]-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acids. The latter was converted into their acid chlorides by reaction with thionyl chloride and without isolation transformed into the respective methyl 2-({[1-(2-ethoxy or methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]carbonyl}amino)benzoates by reaction with methyl anthranilate. Dieckmann condensation of methyl 2-({[1-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]carbonyl}amino)benzoate provided the pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazocine.