Alkenyl tricarbonyl derivatives of α-amino acids as trielectrophiles. Formation of heterocyclic-substituted products

Alkenyl tricarbonyl esters have been prepared by reaction of mono aldehydes of dibasic amino acids with tricarbonyl esters. These systems undergo reaction with diamines and other dinucleophiles by a combination of Michael addition and nucleophilic attack at the electrophilic central carbonyl to form pyrrole derivatives. These monoaldehydes may also be used to incorporate imidazole and furan residues into the amino acid starting materials.