One-step synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted-2-pyridylpyrroles from the condensation of 1,3-diones and 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine.

3,5-Disubstituted- and 3,4,5-trisubstituted-2-(2-pyridyl)pyrroles may be synthesized efficiently from the novel condensation of 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine and 1,3-diones. The cyclization reaction was found to proceed through the intermediacy of a (2-pyridyl)methylimine. A marked dependence of the regioselectivity in the reaction of unsymmetrical diones on the presence of additional aminomethylpyridine suggests that two pathways to the product pyrroles are available.