Pyrrole, anodic cyanation

Anodic cyanations of N-substituted pyrrole or 2-methylpyrrole derivatives take place in the a-position to the nitrogen atom (Scheme 111) [209] and at the side chain with 2,5-dimethyl or 2,3,4,5-tetramethylpyrrole derivatives (Scheme 112). 

Yoshida K (1979) Regiocontrolled anodic cyanation of nitrogen heterocycles. Pyrroles and indoles. J Am Chem Soc 101 2116-2121... 

Other reactions such as the anodic cyanation or alkoxylation of electron-rich heterocycles such as pyrroles and indoles [85] or of electron-donating substituted azines [86] are important, but are not discussed in detail here, because this subject is well covered in electrochemistry textbooks. 

In methanolic cyanide, N-substituted pyrroles193 are substituted in the 2-position by a cyano group on anodic oxidation. Methoxylation, which is often observed as a side reaction in the anodic oxidation in methanolic cyanide, was suppressed completely. When N-substituted pyrroles carry a methyl group in the 2- and 5-positions, a side-chain cyanation occurs.193,194... 

Recently, evidence for the transient ex istence of cation-radicals from simple pyrroles and indoles has been furnished by the observation of anodic regiospecific cyanation of these heterocycles.455 Both heterocycles are preferentially cyanated at the 2-position. Methyl side chains at these positions are also activated to cyanation and deuteration. Indole cation-radicals have been generated by photoionization in an aqueous medium.456 Unsubstituted at N, their lifetime in neutral solution is 10-6sec before they lose the N-proton however, it is longer in more acidic conditions.456 The photophysical properties of indole, its cation-radical, and neutral radical have been the subject of a recent theoretical analysis.457 On anodic oxidation of 2,3-diphenyl indole in acetonitrile, the initially formed cation-radicals dimerize to a product identified, primarily on the basis of 13C NMR, as 3-(5-indolyl)-indolenine (141).458... 

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