Synthesis of dihydropyrroles from in situ-generated zwitterions via Rh2(adc)4/TBAI dual catalysis.

Triggered by formation of α-imino carbene, the regioselective synthesis of dihydropyrroles was achieved via a cascade 1,3-sulfinate migration/annulation. The sulfinate group was converted into sulfone during the group migration, and a stable anion bearing two electron-withdrawing groups was thus formed. The addition of a catalytic amount of iodide is believed to assist the cleavage of the C-O bond, and the formation of a more stable carbocation. Thermodynamic product dihydropyrroles were produced efficiently rather than kinetic product cyclopropanes. This dual catalysis system would afford chemists a new strategy to control the annulation selectivity of zwitterions bearing multiple reactive sites and may be employed in flexible and divergent synthesis of different ring systems.