Microwave-induced Pericyclic Reactions of Aza- and Diazafulvenium Methides

The pericyclic reactions of 4,5-dimethoxycarbonyl-substituted aza- and diazafulvenium methides generated under microwave-induced thermolysis conditions have been described. The 7,7-dimethyl-substituted derivatives undergo allowed suprafacial sigmatropic [1,8]-hydrogen shifts leading to the efficient synthesis of C-vinylpyrroles and Cvinylpyrazoles. These intermediates could not be trapped in [8Π+2Π] cycloaddition in the presence of dipolarophiles. Azaand diazafulvenium methides unsubstituted at C-1 and C-7 behave as 8Π 1,7-dipoles in the presence of dipolarophiles under microwave irradiation, leading to a range of pyrrolo and pyrazolo annulated heterocycles resulting from addition across positions 1 and 7. Aza- and diazafulvenium methide derivatives bearing only one methyl group at C-7 are intercepted in sigmatropic hydrogen shifts to give functionalized pyrroles and pyrazoles, respectively. In the presence of electron- deficient dipolarophiles, these 7-methyl-substituted derivatives act as 1,7-dipoles in [8Π+2Π] cycloadditions, however, competitive formation of the corresponding vinyl pyrroles and vinylpyrazoles is also observed.