Domino reaction sequences in the rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of 3-acetyl-1-allylpyrrole: a short route to 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroindolizines

When 3-acetyl-1-allylpyrrole (1) was subjected under hydroformylation conditions, with Rh4(CO)12 as catalyst precursor, to 30 atm CO/H2 (1:1) total pressure and 140 °C, an equimolar mixture of the isomeric 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroindolizines 4′ and 5′ was obtained as the almost exclusive product. In both cases a domino hydroformylation/cyclization on the α pyrrole positions by the aldehyde 3 carbonyl group occurs which involves different intermediates: while 4′ is generated via the dihydroindolizine 4, 5′ forms via direct reduction of 8-hydroxytetrahydroindolizine 5, a structure that has never been observed before from 1-allylpyrroles under oxo conditions.