Efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of 1-aryl-4-dimethylamino methyleno-pyrrolidine-2,3,5-triones

A microwave-assisted synthesis of a series of 1-aryl-4-dimethylaminomethylene pyrrolidine-2,3,5-triones from the cyclocondensation reaction of ethyl 5,5,5-trichloro-3-dimethylamino methylene-2,4-dioxopentanoate with aniline, 3- or 4-substituted anilines [where the substituents = 3-Me, 3-OMe, 3-OH, 4-Me, 4-F, 4-Cl, 4-Br, 4-NO2, and 4-COMe] is reported. This process is an efficient alternative to the conventional thermal heating and furnishes the products in a short reaction time (ca. 13 min), under mild conditions and in moderate to good yields (50–76%).