The development of
Minisci acylation on electron-rich pyrroles
under silver-free neutral conditions has been reported featuring the
regioselective monoacylation of (NH)-free pyrroles. Unlike conventional
Minisci conditions, the avoidance of any acid that could result in
the polymerization of pyrroles was the key to success. The umpolung
reactivity of the nucleophilic acyl radical, generated in situ from
arylglyoxylic acid, could help explain the mechanism of product formation
with electron-rich pyrroles. Alternatively, the nucleophilic substitution
of the acyl radical on the electron-deficient pyrrole radical cation
is proposed.