Direct synthesis of butadiynyl-substituted pyrroles under solvent- and transition metal-free conditionsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. CCDC 1037920 and 1037921. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c5ra08820h

The work describes a convenient and highly efficient C-H butadiynylation of substituted pyrroles with the use of 1-halobutadiynes. The method requires only a simple grinding of substrates in a mortar under mild, solvent- and transition metal-free conditions and constitutes the first example of pyrrole butadiynylation via cross-coupling reaction with the use of 1-halobutadiynes. The scope of this mechanochemical approach covers 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1 H -indole, its N -substituted derivatives and 2-phenylpyrrole and on the other hand ester and phenyl end-capped 1-halobutadiynes including chlorides, bromides and iodides. Interestingly, the method has proven effective also for weak electron withdrawing aryl substituted 1-halobutadiynes what has not been yet achieved for 1-haloacetylenes. Such reactivity was unexpected in the view of the literature data and opened a gate to the plethora of substrates for organic synthesis including syntheses of pharmaceuticals. An X-ray analysis of two coupling products is also presented. The work describes a convenient and highly efficient C-H butadiynylation of substituted pyrroles under mild and solvent-free conditions.