The reaction between 3-aminocrotonates and oxindole-3-ylidene derivatives: synthesis of highly substituted pyrroles

The reaction between 3-aminocrotonates and 3-acetonylideneoxindole in refluxing toluene resulted in 2-pyrrolo-3′-yloxindoles in high yields (around 90%). At room temperature the 2-pyrrolo-3′-yloxindoles exists as keto–enol tautomers. Treatment with POCl3 yielded the 2-chloro-3-pyrrolyl indole, which gave the pyrrolo annulated indolopyran-2-one upon basic hydrolysis of 2-chloro-3-pyrrolyl indole methyl ester.