Regioselective synthesis of 2,3,4- or 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles via [3,3] or [1,3] rearrangements of O-vinyl oximes

The regioselective synthesis of 2,3,4- or 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles has been achieved via [3,3] and [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangements of O-vinyl oximes, respectively. Iridium-catalyzed isomerization of easily prepared O-allyl oximes enables rapid access to O-vinyl oximes. The regioselectivity of pyrrole formation can be controlled by either the identity of the α-substituent or through the addition of an amine base. When enolization is favored, a [3,3] rearrangement followed by a Paal-Knorr cyclization provides a 2,3,4-trisubstituted pyrrole; when enolization is disfavored, a [1,3] rearrangement occurs prior to enolization to produce a 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrrole after cyclization. Optimization and scope of the O-allyl oxime isomerization and subsequent pyrrole formation are discussed and mechanistic pathways are proposed. Conditions are provided for selecting either the [3,3] rearrangement or the [1,3] rearrangement product with β-ester O-allyl oxime substrates.