Synlett
DOI: 10.1055/a-2774-1477
Letter

Electrochemical Synthesis of Pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines by Cyclization of 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)anilines and Alcohols

Authors

  • Yingxue Ji

    1   School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong, China (Ringgold ID: RIN74648)
  • Wenxue Li

    2   Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, School of Medical Information and Technology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China (Ringgold ID: RIN105002)
  • Ye Zhang

    2   Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, School of Medical Information and Technology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China (Ringgold ID: RIN105002)
  • Yinjun Wei

    2   Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, School of Medical Information and Technology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China (Ringgold ID: RIN105002)
  • Zhen Zheng

    3   Department of Pharmaceutical and Artificial-Intelligence Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN56694)
  • Fengkai Sun

    2   Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, School of Medical Information and Technology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China (Ringgold ID: RIN105002)
  • Zhenyu An

    2   Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, School of Medical Information and Technology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China (Ringgold ID: RIN105002)
  • Qian Li

    3   Department of Pharmaceutical and Artificial-Intelligence Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN56694)
  • Jian Zhang

    1   School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong, China (Ringgold ID: RIN74648)
    2   Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, School of Medical Information and Technology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China (Ringgold ID: RIN105002)
    3   Department of Pharmaceutical and Artificial-Intelligence Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN56694)

We are grateful for the support from Ningxia Peptide and Small Molecule Innovative Drug Research Science and Technology Innovation Team (2024CXTD013), Ningxia Natural Science Foundation Program (2023AAC03254), Open Competition Mechanism to Select the Best Candidates for Key Research Projects of Ningxia Medical University (XJKF240322).
Supported by: Open Competition Mechanism to Select the Best Candidates for Key Research Projects of Ningxia Medical University XJKF240322 Supported by: Ningxia Peptide and Small Molecule Innovative Drug Research Science and Technology Innovation Team 2024CXTD013


Graphical Abstract

Abstract

The electrochemical synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines features the use of ethanol as both the reactant and solvent and a broad substrate scope, thus affording a wide range of 4methylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines in moderate to good yields. Notably, for this efficient electrochemical synthesis protocol, neither metal catalysts nor exogenous additives/oxidants are required. Additionally, gram-scale reaction demonstrated the synthetic usefulness of this protocol.



Publication History

Received: 13 November 2025

Accepted after revision: 16 December 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
16 December 2025

Article published online:
13 January 2026

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