Diels-alder reactions of 2- and 3-vinyl-1-(phenylsulfonyl)pyrroles

Regioselectively produced 2- and 3-acetyl-1-(phenylsulfonyl)pyrroles can be reduced to the corresponding alcohols and subsequently dehydrated to afford N-protected vinylpyrroles. These remarkably stable vinylpyrroles can then serve as heterodienes in 4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with electron deficient dienophiles to afford tetrahydroindole derivatives.