Synthesis and Dynamic NMR Spectroscopic Study of Dialkyl 4-Ethoxy-1-(1-naphthyl)-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1 H-pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylates

Protonation of the reactive 1:1 intermediate produced in the reaction between triphenylphosphine and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates with ethyl 2-(1-naphthylamino)-2-oxoacetate, leads to a vinylphosphonium salt, which undergoes intramolecular Wittig reaction to produce dialkyl 4-ethoxy-1-(1-naphthyl)-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylates in excellent yields. A dynamic NMR effect is observed in the ¹H NMR spectra of the title compounds as a result of restricted rotation around the single bond linking the naphthalene moiety and the heterocyclic system, which is attributed to the peri interaction between the pyrrole residue and the peri CH group. The free energy of activation (G ) for this process is 58±2kJmol^–1.