Photochemistry of stilbenyl-pyrroles: a new approach to indole and isoindole derivatives

A new 2-{2-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethenyl]phenyl}pyrrole (11) was prepared and transformed by a photochemical reaction furnishing two cyclised products 4,5-dihydro-4-(p-methylphenyl)benzo[g]indole (12) and 4H-4-(p-methylbenzyl)pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindole (13), and a reduction product, 2-{2-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl]phenyl}pyrrole (14).