Synthesis and nitration of NH- and N-vinyl-4,5,7-trimethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridines

It has been shown that the most efficient catalysts for the synthesis of 4,5,7-trimethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine from 1,2,5-trimethylpyridin-4-one and acetylene under Trofimov conditions are rubidium and potassium hydroxides. Use of Triton B or a mixture of trimethylbenzylammonium chloride with rubidium hydroxide as catalyst gives O-alkylated oxime. Their configurations and conformations were established through separation of the individual isomers of 1-vinyl-4,5,7-trimethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridines. Acetyl nitrate nitration of the cis isomer of this compound gave the 2- and 3-nitro derivatives. Similar nitration of 4,5,7-trimethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine gave the 2-nitro-7-hydroxy derivative. © 1992 Plenum Publishing Corporation.