α-Amino acid derived enaminones and their application in the synthesis of N-protected methyl 5-substituted-4-hydroxypyrrole-3-carboxylates and other heterocycles

A new and simple synthesis of novel N-protected methyl 5-substituted-4-hydroxypyrrole-3-carboxylates, which exist in equilibrium with their 4-oxo tautomers, has been developed in two steps starting from N-protected α-amino acids. The key intermediates are enaminones, which can also be isolated, characterized, and used for the construction of other functionalized heterocycles, before they spontaneously decompose to pyrrole products. 4-Hydroxypyrroles are prone to partial aerial oxidation but can be efficiently alkylated or reduced to stable polysubstituted pyrrolidine derivatives.