A concise and regioselective preparation of 2-heteroarylmethylene decorated N-arylpyrroles is described through a metal-free Mannich/Wittig/hydroamination sequence followed by isomerization of the N-arylpyrrolidine adducts. Furthermore, the C-H regioselective oxidation of these substrates is demonstrated, extending the molecular diversity and versatility of these scaffolds.
Keywords: C–H oxidation; N-arylpyrrole; isomerization; organocatalysis.