Research news, Aug. 17th, 2013.

 Diazo Compounds as Electrophiles to React with 1,4-Dilithio-1,3-dienes: Efficient Synthesis of 1-Imino-Pyrrole Derivatives


Ming Zhan, Shaoguang Zhang, Wen-Xiong Zhang, and Zhenfeng Xi*
Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 4182-4185.
 

1-Imino pyrrole and indole derivatives were synthesized in high yields from the reaction of diaryl diazomethanes with 1,4-dilithio-1,3-dienes. Diaryl diazomethanes reacted as electrophiles in this reaction. An unprecedented Zn-complex was formed via transmetalation of the above reaction intermediate with ZnCl2, and was structurally characterized. Trans-μ2-η1:η1 coordination mode in the solid state for this azaallylzinc compound was observed.