Abstract
Treatment of 3-en-1-ynyl imines with TpRuPPh 3 (CH 3 CN) 2 PF 6 catalyst (1 mol %) in DCE (50°C, 6 h) effected catalytic cyclization with suitable nucleophiles and gave functionalized pyrroles in good yields. The reaction mechanism is proposed to proceed via (2-pyrrolyl)carbenoid intermediates derived from 5-exo-dig cyclization. This catalytic reaction works well with various nucleophiles, including water, alcohols and anilines. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.