Reactivity of 3-(pyrrol-1-yl)thiophenes in Pd-catalysed direct arylations

International audienceThe regioselectivity of the Pd-catalysed direct arylation of 3-(pyrrol-1-yl)thiophene derivatives was investigated. Conditions allowing either the regioselective arylation at C2 or at C5 of the thiophene ring are reported. From methyl 3-(pyrrol-1-yl)thiophene-2-carboxylate using KOAc as the base, DMA as the solvent and only 1 mol % Pd(OAc)2 catalyst, the target 5-arylated thiophenes were obtained in moderate to good yields with a wide variety of aryl halides; whereas the use of 1-(4-methylthiophen-3-yl)-pyrrole affords the C2-arylated thiophenes. The sequential palladium catalysed 2,5-diheteroarylation of such 3-(pyrrol-1-yl)thiophene is also reported allowing the access to thiophenes bearing two different aryl units at C2 and C5. A pyrazole bearing an ester substituent at C4 and a pyrrole substituent at C5 was only arylated at C2 on the pyrrole ring