I2-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of benzofuro/thieno[2,3-b]pyrrole motifs

Abstract

A novel I2-catalyzed one-pot multicomponent protocol for the synthesis of a variety of elusive furo[2,3-b]pyrrole and thieno[2,3-b]pyrrole libraries has been established. To date, cyclization among alkanone, hydrazine and 2-bromobenzofuran or 2-bromobenzo[b]thiophene has not been explored in one-pot. Thus, the proposed single step protocol provides a versatile alternative to existing routes for accessing useful furo[2,3-b]pyrrole and thieno[2,3-b]pyrrole libraries.