Selective Synthesis of 1,2‐Diarylpyrrolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5,7‐diones via Cyclization Reaction of β‐Enamino Imides with Cinnamaldehydes

The novel 1,2‐diaryl substituted pyrrolo3,4‐b]pyridine‐5,7‐diones were selectively synthesized in high yields by the base catalyzed cyclization reaction of 3‐arylamino‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐diones with cinnamaldehyde and its derivatives in acetonitrile at room temperature. However, when piperidinium trifluoroacetate was employed as catalyst, the reaction afforded a mixture of 1,2‐diaryl and 1,4‐diaryl substituted pyrrolo3,4‐b]pyridine‐5,7‐diones in comparable yields.