Pyrrole Studies XXVII.1Utilisation of 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolyl Lithium in the Synthesis of 1-Methyl-2-substituted Pyrroles

Abstract Although metallation of 1-substituted pyrroles with alkyl lithium reagents to give the lithiated derivatives has been recorded by several research groups,4–6 only limited use has been made of these derivatives in the synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted pyrroles. Subsequent to ourinitial studies,7 it was reported that tetrahydrofuran was the solvent of choice for the formation of the mono-lithiated pyrrole derivative and that the rate of the metallation was accelerated by the presence of TMEDA.6 We had noted,7 however, that prolonged reaction of n-butyl lithium with 1-methylpyrrole in a 2:1 mixture of tetrahydrofuran:hexaneat ca 18°C in the absence of TMEDA gave 1-methyl-2-pyrrolyl lithi…