Nickel-Catalyzed Synthesis of N-Substituted Pyrroles Using Diols with Aryl- and Alkylamines

Herein, nickel-catalyzed sustainable strategy for the synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles using butene-1,4-diols and butyne-1,4-diols with a series of aryl-, alkyl-, and heteroarylamines is reported. The catalytic protocol is tolerant of free alcohol, halide, alkyl, alkoxy, oxygen heterocycles, activated benzyl, and the pyridine moiety and resulted in up to 90% yield. Initial mechanistic studies involving defined nickel catalyst, determination of rate, and order of reaction including deuterium-labeling experiments were performed for pyrrole synthesis.