Catalytic multicomponent reactions for the synthesis of N-aryl trisubstituted pyrroles.

Dirhodium(II) salts efficiently catalyze the three-component assembly reaction of an imine, diazoacetonitrile (DAN), and an activated alkynyl coupling partner to form substituted 1,2-diarylpyrroles in moderate to good yields. The transition-metal-catalyzed decomposition of the diazo compound in the presence of the imine presumably generates a transient azomethine ylide that undergoes cycloaddition with dipolarophiles in a highly convergent manner.