Preparation of Sulfenyl Pyrroles

Abstract

Sulfenyl groups are attracting interest as masking/protecting groups for pyrroles. A facile one-step synthesis of sulfenyl pyrroles, involving the reaction of pyrroles with N-(aryl- and alkyl­thio)phthalimides in the presence of MgBr2, is reported and the methodology extends to include sulfinyl pyrroles. The one-step procedure gives good yields and is more efficient and practical than current multistep protocols to sulfenyl pyrroles that involve thio­cyanato pyrrolic intermediates. A convenient procedure for the synthesis of N-(aryl- and alkylthio)phthalimides is also reported.