Interesting reactivity of diketones with pyrrole under acidic condition

Abstract

The acid catalysed condensation of diketones with pyrrole did not result in the formation of expected divergent bisdipyrromethane always; instead the product depends on the chain length of the diketones, in particular the distance between the two carbonyl functional groups.When the two carbonyl groups are linked via one or two methylene groups, unusual ring annulation occurs resulting in the formation of various bridged bipyrroles. However, on further increase in the length of the spacer, between the two carbonyl groups, synthesis of the expected bisdipyrromethanes could be achieved. © Indian Academy of Sciences.