One-pot synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline derivatives via iron-promoted aryl nitro reduction and aerobic oxidation of alcohols.

Here, we describe a new one-pot method to synthesize 4,7-substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines and related heterocyles through a cascade of redox reactions/imine formation/intramolecular cyclization. This procedure tolerates readily available substituted 1-(2-nitrophenyl)pyrrole derivatives and aliphatic or benzylic alcohols as starting materials using iron powder and acidic conditions. This is the first example of constructing N-heterocycles via iron-mediated aryl nitro reduction and aerobic oxidation of alcohols in one pot.