Alkylation of 2-Acetylpyrrole and 1 -alkyl-2-Acetylpyrroles Under Solid/Liquid Phase-Transfer Conditions

The alkylation of 2 -acetylpyrrole with alkyl iodides in the benzene/solid KOH system in the presence of 18-crown-6 at room temperature gives the corresponding 1-alkyl derivatives in high yields. The phase-transfer catalysed alkylation of 1-alkyl-2-acetylpyrroles without solvent leads to side-chain di-C-alkylated products, i.e. ketones of the (1-alkyl-2-pyrrolyl) COCHR2 type in satisfactory yields.