Synlett 2009(1): 112-116  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1087486
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Preparation of Sulfenyl Pyrroles

H. Martin Gillis, Lana Greene, Alison Thompson*
Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J3, Canada
Fax: +1(902)4941310; e-Mail: Alison.Thompson@dal.ca;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 2 February 2008
Publication Date:
12 December 2008 (online)

Abstract

Sulfenyl groups are attracting interest as masking/protecting groups for pyrroles. A facile one-step synthesis of sulfenyl pyrroles, involving the reaction of pyrroles with N-(aryl- and alkyl­thio)phthalimides in the presence of MgBr2, is reported and the methodology extends to include sulfinyl pyrroles. The one-step procedure gives good yields and is more efficient and practical than current multistep protocols to sulfenyl pyrroles that involve thio­cyanato pyrrolic intermediates. A convenient procedure for the synthesis of N-(aryl- and alkylthio)phthalimides is also reported.