Pyrrole nitrosation

Inhibition of nitrosation is generally accompHshed by substances that compete effectively for the active nitrosating iatermediate. /V-Nitrosamine formation in vitro can be inhibited by ascorbic acid [50-81-7] (vitamin C) and a-tocopherol [59-02-9] (vitamin E) (61,62), as well as by several other classes of compounds including pyrroles, phenols, and a2iridines (63—65). Inhibition of iatragastric nitrosation ia humans by ascorbic acid and by foods such as fmit and vegetable juices or food extracts has been reported ia several instances (26,66,67). 

The nitrosation of pyrroles and indoles is not a simple process. The 3-nitroso derivatives (84) obtained from indoles exist largely in oximino forms (85) (80IJC(B)767). Nitrosation of pyrrole or alkylpyrroles may result in ring opening or oxidation of the ring and removal of the alkyl groups. This is illustrated by the formation of the maleimide (86) from 2,3,4 -trime thylpyrrole. 

Pyrazoles and imidazoles exist partly as anions (e.g. 108 and 109) in neutral and basic solution. Under these conditions they react with electrophilic reagents almost as readily as phenol, undergoing diazo coupling, nitrosation and Mannich reactions (note the increased reactivity of pyrrole anions over the neutral pyrrole species). 

The general discussion (Section 4.02.1.4.1) on reactivity and orientation in azoles should be consulted as some of the conclusions reported therein are germane to this discussion. Pyrazole is less reactive towards electrophiles than pyrrole. As a neutral molecule it reacts as readily as benzene and, as an anion, as readily as phenol (diazo coupling, nitrosation, etc.). Pyrazole cations, formed in strong acidic media, show a pronounced deactivation (nitration, sulfonation, Friedel-Crafts reactions, etc.). For the same reasons quaternary pyrazolium salts normally do not react with electrophiles. 

A zinc-free alternative to the Knorr pyrrole synthesis employs catalytic hydrogenation, as for 17 + 18 to 19. Oximes such as 17 are readily prepared by nitrosation (NaNOa, HO Ac) of the active methylene group. 

The anion formed from the acetyl methyl group under reaction conditions then attacks one of the carbethoxy groups to form a cylohexanone to give (74-4) as the isolated product. The free acid obtained on hydrolysis of the ester decarboxylates to give the (3-diketone (74-5). In a classic apphcation of the Knorr pyrrole synthesis, the diketone is then allowed to react with 2-aminopentan-3-one. Since the latter is unstable, it is generated in situ by reduction of the nitrosation product from diethyl ketone. There is thus obtained piquindone (74-6) [76], a compound that displays antipsychotic activity. 

Nitrosation of pyrrole or alkylpyrroles may result in ring opening or oxidation of the ring and removal of the alkyl groups. This is illustrated by the formation of the maleimide (119) from 2,3,4-trimethylpyrrole. 

Owing to the susceptibility of indole, isoindole and pyrrole rings to oxidation (see Section 3.05.1.4) and acid-catalyzed dimerization and polymerization (see Section 3.05.1.2.2), the products of the reactions with nitrating and nitrosating agents are subject to the reaction conditions. 

Upon reaction with nitrous acid, indole produces a complex mixture of products. In addition to 3-oximino-3H -indole (16), which is the stable tautomeric form of 3-nitrosoindole (17), dimeric products of the type (18) and (19) are also formed. In contrast, (16) appears to be the sole product of the nitrosation of indole with amyl nitrite and sodium ethoxide (72HC(25-2)537). Studies of the nitrosation of pyrrole are somewhat indecisive. The mononitrosopyrrole, obtained from the reaction of pyrrole with nitrous acid, has not been fully characterized, but there is some evidence that nitrosation of pyrrole with amyl nitrite and sodium ethoxide leads to the sodium salt of the 3-nitroso derivative. However, upon the addition of acid, the product rearranges to give the oxime of 3-formylisoxazole (20) (B-77MI30502). 

Predictably, nitrosation of 2-acetylpyrrole and pyrrole-2-carboxylic esters with alkyl nitrites or nitrous acid preferentially yields the relatively stable 4-nitroso derivatives, whilst 2,4-dialkyl- or -diaryl-pyrroles are nitrosated at the 5-position. Further reaction of the dialkyl and diaryl nitrosopyrroles with an excess of alkyl nitrite in the absence of a base can result in the formation of the nitropyrroles, whereas the reaction with nitrous acid converts the nitrosopyrroles into diazopyrroles (B-77MI30502). 

The versatile Knorr pyrrole synthesis is an important route to pyrroles 169 it involves the condensation of a -keto ester 167 with an -amino ketone 168 (Scheme 95). The -keto ester can be replaced by a -diketone simple ketones give poor yields. The amino ketone is frequently prepared in situ by nitrosation and reduction (e.g., with Zn—AcOH) of a second molecule of the -keto ester. 

N-Nitrosation (in sodium nitrite solution in HCl) of copolymers from pyrrole and 2-ethylaniline, easily prepared by oxidative copolymerization, has been done for the improvement of their solubility (Equation 60) <2004PLM385>. 

A general reaction for the formation of the pyrrole nucleus consists in the treatment of an a-amino ketone with another ketone having a reactive a-methylene group. The a-amino ketone is conveniently prepared from the ketone by nitrosation and reduction and then, without isolation, it is allowed to condense with a second carbonyl compound, viz.,... 

Most aromatic compounds, whether of high or low reactivity, can be nitrated, because a wide variety of nitrating agents is available. For benzene, the simple alkylbenzenes, and less reactive compounds, the most common reagent is a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids,but for active substrates, the reaction can be carried out with nitric acid alone, or in water, acetic acid, acetic anhydride, or chloroform.Nitric acid in acetic anhydride/trifluoroacetic anhydride on zeolite H-(3 was used to convert toluene to 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and AcONOi on clay converted ethylbenzene to ortho-para nitro ethylbenzene. " In fact, these milder conditions are necessary for active compounds, such as amines, phenols, and pyrroles, since reaction with mixed nitric and sulfuric acids would oxidize these substrates. With active substrates, such as amines and phenols, nitration can be accomplished by nitrosation under oxidizing conditions with a mixture of dilute nitrous and nitric acids.A mixture of N02/02/Fe(acac)3 can be used for active compounds, as can NaN02 with trichloroisocyanuric acid on wet silica gel, or N2O4 and silica acetate. Trimethoxybenzenes were nitrated easily with ceric ammonium nitrate on silica gel, and mesitylene was nitrated in an... 

Nitrogen s extra pair of electrons, which is responsible for the usual basicity of nitrogen compounds, is involved in the tt cloud, and is not available for sharing with acids. In contrast to most amines, therefore, pyrrole is an extremely weak base (ATj, -- 2.5 X 10 14). By the same token, there is a high electron density in the ring, which causes pyrrole to be extremely reactive toward electrophilic substitution it undergoes reactions like nitrosation and coupling with diazonium salts which are characteristic of only the most reactive benzene derivatives, phenols and amines. 

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