NMR analysis of a series of 1,2‐bis(1‐R‐5‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐4‐ylidene)ethanes and X‐ray crystal structure analysis of the R = mesityl compound

Four tetramethyl 4,4′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diylidene)bis1‐R‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,3‐dicarboxylate] compounds, denoted class (1), are a series of conjugated buta‐1,3‐dienes substituted with a heterocyclic group. The compounds can be used as dyes and pigments due to their long‐range conjugated systems. Four structures were studied using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectroscopy, viz. with R = 2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl, (1a), R = cyclohexyl, (1b), R = tert‐butyl, (1c), and R = isopropyl, (1d). A detailed discussion is presented regarding the characteristics of the three‐dimensional structures based on NMR analysis and the X‐ray crystal structure of (1a), namely tetramethyl 4,4′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diylidene)bis5‐oxo‐1‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,3‐dicarboxylate], C₃₆H₃₆N₂O₁₀. The conjugation plane and stability were also studied via quantum chemical calculations.