LIC-KOR-promoted synthesis of alkoxydienyl amines: an entry to 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted pyrroles.

A stereoselective approach to the synthesis of (E)-alkoxydienylamines (2) is described, starting from alpha,beta-unsaturated acetals (1) and aryl imines, under superbasic conditions. These can be readily converted into alpha-arylglycine derivatives (3) by mild acidic hydrolysis or, in turn, cyclized under oxidative conditions in the presence of a Pd catalyst to 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted pyrroles (4).