A Facile Synthesis of Polysubstituted Pyrroles

Abstract
α-Aminoalkylcuprates prepared from CuX·2LiCl (X = Cl, CN) and 1 equiv of an α-lithiocarbamate undergo conjugate addition reactions to α,β-alkynyl ketones in moderate to good yields, affording E:Z mixtures of α,β-enones. Treatment of the conjugate adducts with PhOH/TMSCl in CH2Cl2 effected carbamate deprotection and cyclization to afford a flexible two-step synthesis of substituted pyrroles.