Orthogonal synthesis of pyrroles and 1,2,3-triazoles from vinyl azides and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

Tri- and tetrasubstituted N–H pyrroles were prepared by the simple treatment of vinyl azides with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in toluene at 100 °C via 2H-azirine intermediates generated in situ. When the reactions of vinyl azides and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds were performed in DMF in the presence of a catalytic amount of K2CO3, 1-vinyl-1,2,3-triazoles were obtained via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. These methodologies exploited orthogonal modes of chemical reactivity of vinyl azides, which could be achieved by slight modification of the reaction conditions.