One-pot synthesis of dihydro-8H acenaphtho[1',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole-diol derivatives.

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of dihydro-8H-acenaphtho[1',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole-diol derivatives via one-pot, four-component reaction of 1,1-bis(methylthio)-2-nitroethene, various amines, and acenaphthoquinone was developed. All the reactions were carried out in ethanol at reflux without any catalyst. The main advantages of this method are good to high yields, experimental simplicity, mild reaction conditions, simple workup, and easy purification.