SHORT COMMUNICATIONSWe previously described spiro heterocyclization of 1-substituted ethyl 4,5-dioxo-2-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylates with 3-arylamino-1H-inden-1-ones at ratios of 1 : 1 and 1 : 2, which led to the formation of spiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoline-10,3′-pyrrole] [1] and spiro[diindeno[1,2-b:2′,1′-e]pyridine-11,3′-pyrrole] derivatives [2], respectively. In both cases, the reactions involved the 4-C=O group of the initial dioxopyrrole. Reactions of other monocyclic 1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones with 3-amino-1H-inden-1-ones were not reported so far. By reaction of methyl 3-aroyl-1-aryl-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates Ia and Ib with an equimolar amount of 3-arylamino-1H-inden-1-ones IIa and IIb in boiling anhydrous toluene (reaction time 1.5-2 h; TLC monitoring) we obtained 3′-aroyl-1,1′-diaryl-4′-hydroxy-1H-spiro[indeno[1,2-b]pyrrole-3,2′-pyrrole]-2,4,5′(1′H)-triones IIIa and IIIb whose structure was confirmed by X-ray analysis of IIIb.Compounds III are likely to be formed via addition of the =CH group in the enamino fragment of II at the C 2 carbon atom of pyrrole I, followed by closure of new pyrrole ring as a result of intramolecular attack by the amino group on the ester carbonyl carbon atom and elimination of methanol.The described reaction may be regarded as a new method for building up difficultly accessible spiro-[indeno[1,2-b]pyrrole-3,2′-pyrrole] heterocyclic system via direct spiro heterocyclization of monocyclic 1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones with enamino ketones.
3′-Benzoyl-1′-(4-chlorophenyl)-4′-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-spiro[indeno[1,2-b]pyrrole-3,2′-pyrrole]-2,4,5′(1′H)-trione (IIIa).A solution of 1 mmol of compound Ia and 1 mmol of IIa in 10 ml of anhydrous toluene was heated for 2 h under reflux. The mixture was cooled, and the precipitate was filtered off. Yield 82%, mp 223-224°C (from toluene). IR spectrum, ν, cm -1 : 3180 br (OH); 1763, 1715 (C 2 =O, C 5′ =O); 1688, 1615 (C 4 =O, 3′-C=O). 1 H NMR spectrum, δ, ppm: 2.44 s (3H, Me), 6.43 d (1H, 8-H, J = 7.1 Hz), 7.12-7.76 m (16H, H arom ), 12.20 br.s (1H, I, Ar = Ph, X = Cl (a); Ar = 2,4-Me 2 C 6 H 3 , X = H (b); II, Y = Me (a), H (b); III, Ar = Ph , X = Cl, Y = Me (a); Ar = 2,4-Me 2 C 6 H 3 , X = Y = H (b).