Synthesis of pyrroles by consecutive multicomponent reaction/[4 + 1] cycloaddition of alpha-iminonitriles with isocyanides.

[4 + 1] Cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated imidoyl cyanide (2-cyano-1-azadienes) with isocyanides in the presence of a catalytic amount of AlCl(3) afforded polysubstituted 2-amino-5-cyanopyrroles in good to excellent yields. In combination with the IBX/TBAB-mediated oxidative Strecker reaction, this important heterocycle is readily synthesized in two steps from simple starting materials.