Synthesis of 5-alkyl-5-aryl-1-pyrroline N-oxides from 1-aryl-substituted nitroalkanes and acrolein via Michael addition and nitro reductive cyclization

A general method for accessing 5-alkyl-5-aryl-1-pyrroline N-oxides (AAPOs) has been established using readily available aryl bromides, nitroalkanes, and acrolein as the starting materials. The palladium-catalyzed arylation of nitroalkanes gave the 1-aryl-substituted nitroalkanes, which underwent the Et₃N-catalyzed Michael addition with acrolein at room temperature to afford the 4-aryl-4-nitroaldehydes. The latter were then subjected to the nitro reductive cyclization using Zn–HOAc in EtOH at 0 °C followed by warming the reaction mixture to room temperature for 24 h, furnishing the 5-alkyl-5-aryl-1-pyrroline N-oxides in good overall yields. Selected examples of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the cyclic nitrones with methyl methacrylate were also described.