[3+2] Cycloaddition of Tosylmethyl Isocyanide with Styrylisoxazoles: Facile Access to Polysubstituted 3-(Isoxazol-5-yl)pyrroles.

A facile access to polysubstituted 3-(isoxazol-5-yl)pyrroles was developed through [3+2] cycloaddition of tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) and styrylisoxazoles. In the presence of KOH, various styrylisoxazoles reacted smoothly with tosylmethyl isocyanide and analogs to deliver a wide range of 3-(isoxazol-5-yl)pyrroles at ambient temperature. This transformation is operationally simple, high-yielding, and displays broad substrate scope.

1. Introduction

Pyrrole derivatives are one of the most relevant heterocycles with important biological activities, which includes antitumour, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and are also widely used in organic synthesis as key heterocycles and/or intermediates for the preparation of natural compounds and related structures, and molecular sensors [1]. In this context, isoxazole substituted pyrroles are present as the core substructure in some meaningful compounds, such as isoxazolylpyrroles I and II are inhibitors to oral and mouth cancer cell and the activators to cellular tumor antigen p53 [2,3]. Isoxazolylpyrroles III and IV are the key intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive prodiginines natural products and their congeners, and the precursors structures of phosphodiesterase inhibitors PDE-I and PDE-II, which inhibitory activity toward cyclic adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate phosphodiesterase, respectively [4,5]. Isoxazolylpyrroles V is a receptor for recognition and sensing purposes in aprotic solvents [6,7]. (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Examples of biologically active, isoxazole-substituted pyrrole derivatives.

In the view of the applications of isoxazole substituted pyrrole, some synthetic methods have been developed for their preparation. Among these known synthetic approaches, two main strategies are shown as follows: one is the construction of isoxazole ring from starting materials containing pyrrole ring, such as the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of 1,5-diphenyl-1,4-pentadien-3-one with nitrile oxides in the presence of chloramine-T reported by Padmavathi et al. (Scheme 1, Equation (1)) [8] , or [3+2]-cycloadditions of enaminone and hydroxylamine hydrochloride reported by Gomha et al. (Scheme 1, Equation (2)) [3]. In contrast, another synthetic strategy is through the construction of pyrrole ring from starting materials containing isoxazole ring , including the four-component coupling reaction of a functionalized silane, a nitrile, an aldehyde, and trimethylsilylcyanide by Yb(OTf)3-catalyzed reported by Konakahara et al. (Scheme 1, Equation (3)) [9]. Despite these achievements, the development of novel methods for the convenient synthesis of the isoxazole substituted pyrroles is still of great interest.

Scheme 1

Comparison between the selected existing literature examples and this work.

In the past decades, a variety of elegant methods for the synthesis of pyrroles or oligofunctional pyrroles have been reported, including the classical Hantzsch reaction [10], the Paal-Knorr cyclization reaction [10], the van Leusen cyclization [11], and other cyclizations [11]. Among them, the [3+2] cycloaddition of tosylmethyl isocyanide with electron-deficient olefins, developed by van Leusen et al., is one of the most promising methods [12,13,14,15,16,17,18]. A wide range of electron-deficient olefins, such as α,β-unsaturated esters, ketones or nitriles, nitroolefins and styrenes, etc., are well tolerated in this reaction [19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36]. 3-Methyl-4-nitro-5-alkenylisoxazoles, developed by Adamo et al., are excellent activated olefins, which hold excellent potential for the generation of diversity [37,38,39,40]. In 2015, Adamo and co-workers reported an additional reaction of 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-alkenylisoxazoles and ethyl isocyanoacetate to give enantioenriched monoadducts; then, resulting adducts were subsequently cyclized to give 2,3-dihydropyrroles [41]. Although the stepwise synthesis of dihydropyrroles from styrylisoxazoles was developed [41], to our knowledge, the [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of styrylisoxazoles with TosMIC for the synthesis of isoxazolylpyrroles has not been reported so far. As part of our continued efforts to develop the heterocyclization of TosMIC [42,43,44,45,46,47], we report herein an expedient and convenient one-pot synthesis of isoxazole-substituted pyrrole derivatives from [3+2] cycloaddition of 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazoles with TosMIC and analogs (Scheme 1, Equation (4)). Under basic conditions, various styrylisoxazoles reacted smoothly with TosMIC and analogs to deliver a wide range of polysubstituted isoxazolylpyrroles at ambient temperature.

2. Results and Discussion

Initially, the reaction of TosMIC 1a with (E)-5-(4-chlorostyryl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole 2b was tested for the optimization of the reaction conditions. It was found that the reaction of 1a and 2b to the formation of isoxazole substituted pyrrole 3ab in 84% yield (Table 1, entry 1) under DBU (1.5 equiv) in CH3CN at room temperature for 1 h. When the reaction time is prolonged to 6 h under the same conditions, the yield can be only improved to 87% (Table 1, entry 2). Decreasing (1.1 equiv) or increasing (1.5 equiv) the amount of TosMIC 1a lead to almost same yield (83% and 84%) of 3ab (Table 1, entries 3 and 4). Among the screened bases such as DBU, K2CO3, KOH, TMG, t-BuOK and NaOH (Table 1, entries 4–9), KOH is optimal (Table 1, entry 6). Different solvents were also surveyed, with ethanol giving comparable yield of 3ab (Table 1, entry 10). The [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction was slower, when the reaction was performed in DMF or THF (Table 1, entries 11 and 12).

Table 1

Optimization of the reaction conditions.

Entry	1a:2b	Base (equiv)	Solvent	Time (h)	Yield (%) a
1	1.3:1	DBU (1.5)	CH3CN	1.0	84
2	1.3:1	DBU (1.5)	CH3CN	6.0	87
3	1.1:1	DBU (1.5)	CH3CN	1.5	83
4	1.5:1	DBU (1.5)	CH3CN	1.5	84
5	1.3:1	K2CO3 (1.5)	CH3CN	8.0	82
6	1.3:1	KOH (1.5)	CH3CN	2.5	90
7	1.3:1	TMG (1.5)	CH3CN	0.5	82
8	1.3:1	t-BuOK (1.5)	CH3CN	1.5	77
9	1.3:1	NaOH (1.5)	CH3CN	1.0	82
10	1.3:1	KOH (1.5)	EtOH	2.0	80
11	1.3:1	KOH (1.5)	DMF	1.5	63
12	1.3:1	KOH (1.5)	THF	2.0	70

a Yield of isolated product 3ab.

With optimal conditions in hand (Table 1, entry 6), various (E)-3-methyl-4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazoles 2 were explored to investigate the generality of this tandem one-pot reaction for the synthesis of 3. The results are tabulated in Table 2. Substrates 2, with either electron-rich or electron-deficient aryl groups, afforded the double Michael adduct 3aa–al in excellent yields (Table 2, entries 1–10). Next, with the aim to explore the scope of the reaction mentioned above, a variety of (E)-3-methyl-4-nitro-5-(prop-1-en-1-yl)isoxazoles 2 were selected to react with TosMIC 1a under the optimized conditions. Further experiments showed that the reaction proceeded more efficiently for the R2 group on (E)-3-methyl-4-nitro-5-(prop-1-en-1-yl)isoxazoles 2, such as 2-furyl (2n), 2-thienyl (2o), 2-naphthyl (2p), and styryl (2q) (these groups were well tolerated) (Table 2, entries 14–17). In general, a wide range of styrylisoxazoles 2 bearing various functional groups were reacted smoothly with TosMIC 1a under mild conditions, thus giving rise to the pyrrole products 3 in moderate to high yields.

Table 2

Synthesis of 3-isoxazole bisubstituted pyrrole derivatives 1–17.

Entry	R2	Time (h)	3	Yield (%) a
1	Ph	4.0	aa	93
2	4-ClC6H4	2.5	ab	90
3	4-BrC6H4	5.5	ac	88
4	4-NO2C6H4	4.5	ad	90
5	4-CH3C6H4	3.5	ae	97
6	3-CH3C6H4	4.0	af	87
7	3-OCH3C6H4	1.5	ag	86
8	3-ClC6H4	3.5	ah	86
9	2-CH3C6H4	1.5	ai	92
10	2-ClC6H4	5.0	aj	89
11	2,3-ClC6H3	3.5	ak	57
12	3,4-Cl2C6H3	4.5	al	78
13	2,5-(OCH3)2C6H3	4.0	am	86
14	2-furyl	3.5	an	84
15	2-thienyl	3.5	ao	81
16	2-naphthyl	5.0	ap	90
17	C6H5CH=CH	3.0	aq	82

a Yields of isolated product.

To our delight, under optimal conditions (Table 1, entry 6), further experiments showed that the R1 group on TosMIC 1a, such as the ethyl (1b), allyl (1c), phenyl (1d), benzyl (1e), and p-methylbenzyl (1f) groups, also gave the corresponding trisubstituted pyrroles 3 in high yield (Table 3, entries 1–5). Therefore, a wide range of trisubstituted pyrrole derivatives were obtained under mild conditions. The configurations of pyrroles 3aa–fb were assigned by NMR and high-resolution mass spectra, and the structure of 3ac was further confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis (Figure 2).

Table 3

Synthesis of 3-isoxazole trisubstituted pyrrole derivatives 1–5.

Entry	R1	Time (h)	3	Yield (%) a
1	CH3CH2	8.0	bb	67
2	allyl	9.0	cb	56
3	C6H5	4.0	db	81
4	C6H5CH2	7.0	eb	78
5	4-CH3C6H4CH2	5.0	fb	83

a Yields of isolated product.

Figure 2

ORTEP drawing of 3ac.

Generally, a stepwise mechanism rather than a concerted process is proposed in the van Leusen pyrrole synthesis from the [3+2] cycloaddition of electron-deficient olefins with TosMIC [19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36]. Thus, on the basis of the related reports [43,44,45,46,47,48] and above-stated results, a possible mechanism for the synthesis of 3 was proposed and depicted in Scheme 2. First, addition of TosMIC 1 to (E)-3-methyl-4-nitro-5-(prop-1-en-1-yl)isoxazole 2, in the presence of KOH in CH3CN, leads to the adduct (A). Intramolecular cyclization of the adduct (A) occurs to produce the intermediate (B) [47]. Then, protontropic shifts, followed by the elimination of a toluenesulfinate anion to produce the intermediate (E) and the final hydrogen shift, deliver the 3-isoxazole-substituted pyrrole derivatives 3.

Scheme 2

Proposed mechanism for the formation of 3.

3. Experimental

3.1. General

All reagents were commercial and used without further purification, unless otherwise indicated. Chromatography was carried on flash silica gel (300−400 mesh). All reactions were monitored by TLC, which was performed on precoated aluminum sheets of silica gel 60 (F254). Melting points were uncorrected. The 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra were determined at 25 °C at 600 MHz, 150 MHz, or 125 MHz, respectively, with TMS as an internal standard. All shifts are given in ppm. High-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were obtained using a Bruker microTOF II focus spectrometer (ESI). Crystal data was obtained by a Bruker SMART X-Ray single crystal diffractometer (Bruker, Germany). The substrates (E)-3-methyl-4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazoles 2 were prepared by a similar method as reported papers [49,50]. More informations can be found in the supplementary materials.

3.2. Synthesis of

General procedures for the synthesis of 3 (taking 3ab as an example): to the mixture of tosylmethyl isocyanide 1a (50.7 mg, 0.26 mmol) and (E)-5-(4-chlorostyryl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole 2b (52.8 mg, 0.2 mmol) in CH3CN (2 mL) was added KOH (16.8 mg, 0.3 mmol), in one portion, at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred and monitored by TLC. After the substrate 2b was consumed, the solvent was removed under vacuum. The crude product was subjected to column chromatography on silica gel (petroleum ether/EtOAc = 8:1) to give 3ab (54.5 mg, 90%) as a green solid.

3-Methyl-4-nitro-5-(4-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)isoxazole (3aa). Green solid, yield 93%, m.p. 174–176 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.47 (s, 3H), 7.16 (s, 1H), 7.21 (t, J = 6 Hz, 3H), 7.29 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.81 (s, 1H), 11.96 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.2, 105.7, 119.8, 125.4, 126.5, 126.7, 127.6, 128.1, 128.8, 135.4, 156.5, 167.0. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C14H12N3O3+ ([M + H]+) 270.0873. Found: 270.0865.

5-(4-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3ab). Green solid, yield 90%, m.p. 183–185 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.47 (s, 3H), 7.20 (s, 1H), 7.23 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.34 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.81 (s, 1H), 12.00 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz), δ 12.2, 105.7, 120.2, 124.1, 126.8, 127.7, 128.8, 129.8, 131.4, 134.4, 156.6, 166.7. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C14H11ClN3O3+ ([M + H]+) 304.0483. Found: 304.0477.

5-(4-(4-Bromophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3ac). Green solid, yield 88%, m.p. 191–193 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.48 (s, 3H), 7.17 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.21 (s, 1H), 7.48 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.81 (s, 1H), 12.01 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.2, 105.6, 119.8, 120.1, 124.0, 126.6, 127.6, 130.0, 131.6, 134.8, 156.4, 166.6. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C14H11BrN3O3+ ([M + H]+) 347.9978. Found: 347.9978.

3-Methyl-4-nitro-5-(4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)isoxazole (3ad). Green solid, yield 90%, m.p. 183–185 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.48 (s, 3H), 7.42 (s, 1H), 7.49 (d, J = 9 Hz, 2H), 7.85 (s, 1H), 8.14 (d, J = 9 Hz, 2H), 12.20 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.2, 105.9, 121.8, 123.2, 124.2, 127.3, 128.0, 128.6, 142.6, 146.0, 156.7, 166.4. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C14H11N4O5+ ([M + H]+) 315.0724. Found: 315.0726.

3-Methyl-4-nitro-5-(4-(p-tolyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)isoxazole (3ae). Yellow solid, yield 97%, m.p. 157–159 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 2.34 (s, 3H), 2.57 (s, 3H), 6.88 (t, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.13–7.16 (m, 4H), 7.84 (dd, J1 = 2.4 Hz, J2 = 0.6 Hz, 1H), 8.99 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.0, 21.1, 106.8, 118.3, 125.4, 126.4, 127.4, 128.1, 129.0, 131.4, 136.5, 156.0, 166.5. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C15H13N3NaO3+ ([M + Na]+) 306.0849. Found: 306.0846.

3-Methyl-4-nitro-5-(4-(m-tolyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)isoxazole (3af). Green solid, yield 87%, m.p. 168–170 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.27 (s, 3H), 2.47 (s, 3H), 6.96 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.08 (s, 1H), 7.14 (t, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.16 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (t, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 11.95 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.2, 21.6, 105.7, 119.7, 125.2, 125.4, 126.4, 127.4, 127.6, 128.6, 128.7, 135.3, 137.8, 156.4, 167.0. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C15H14N3O3+ ([M + H]+) 284.1030. Found: 284.1035.

5-(4-(3-Methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3ag). Yellow solid, yield 86%, m.p. 169–171 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.47 (s, 3H), 3.70 (s, 3H), 6.75–6.79 (m, 3H), 7.18–7.20 (m, 2H), 7.77–7.78 (m, 1H), 11.95 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.2, 55.5, 105.7, 112.3, 113.5, 119.9, 120.4, 125.2, 126.4, 127.7, 129.9, 136.7, 156.5, 159.7, 167.0. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C15H13N3NaO4+ ([M + Na]+) 322.0798. Found: 322.0795.

5-(4-(3-Chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3ah). Paleyellow solid, yield 86%, m.p.163–165 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.47 (s, 3H), 7.13 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.26–7.32 (m, 4H), 7.83 (t, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 12.05 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.2, 105.7, 120.6, 123.7, 126.5, 126.7, 126.8, 127.6, 127.7, 130.6, 133.5, 137.6, 156.5, 166.6. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C14H11ClN3O3+ ([M + H]+) 304.0483. Found: 304.0474.

3-Methyl-4-nitro-5-(4-(o-tolyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)isoxazole (3ai). Yellow solid, yield 92%, m.p. 185–187 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 2.11 (s, 3H), 2.52 (s, 3H), 6.79–6.80 (m, 1H), 7.16–7.17 (m, 2H), 7.21–7.24 (m, 2H), 8.11–8.12 (m, 1H), 8.95 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.1, 20.1, 108.5, 118.9, 125.4, 125.4, 125.4, 126.7, 127.5, 129.9, 130.4, 134.2, 136.9, 155.9, 166.2. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C15H13N3NaO3+ ([M + Na]+) 306.0849. Found: 306.0854.

5-(4-(2-Chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3aj). Green solid, yield 89%, m.p. 165–167 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 2.54 (s, 3H), 6.90 (t, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.24–7.27 (m, 2H), 7.31 (dd, J1 = 3.6 Hz, J2 = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.4 (dd, J1 = 3.6 Hz, J2 = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 8.11 (dd, J1 = 2.4 Hz, J2 = 0.6 Hz, 1H), 8.98 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.1, 108.6, 119.6, 123.3, 125.4, 126.6, 128.7, 129.5, 131.6, 133.6, 133.9, 156.0, 166.1. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C14H11ClN3O3+ ([M + H]+) 304.0483. Found: 304.0482.

5-(4-(2,3-Dichlorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3ak). Green solid, yield 57%, m.p. 177–179 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 2.54 (s, 3H), 6.92 (s, 1H), 7.20 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.43 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 8.15 (s, 1H), 8.95 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.1, 108.7, 119.7, 123.2, 125.5, 126.9, 129.7, 129.9, 132.5, 133.3, 136.0, 156.0, 165.7. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C14H10Cl2N3O3+ ([M + H]+) 338.0094. Found: 338.0080.

5-(4-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3al). Green solid, yield 78%, m.p. 174–176 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 2.58 (s, 3H), 6.95 (t, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.06 (dd, J1 = 1.8 Hz, J2 = 6.6 Hz, 1H), 7.38–7.39 (m, 2H), 7.94–7.95 (m, 1H), 8.92 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.1, 107.1, 118.9, 124.3, 125.8, 127.8, 130.1, 130.2, 131.0, 132.3, 134.5, 156.2, 165.6. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C14H10Cl2N3O3+ ([M + H]+) 338.0094. Found: 338.0080.

5-(4-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3am). Yellow solid, yield 86%, m.p. 172–174 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.46 (s, 3H), 3.33 (s, 3H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 6.78–6.80 (m, 1H), 6.82–6.84 (m, 2H), 7.08 (t, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (t, J = 3 Hz, 1H), 11.89 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.1, 55.7, 55.8, 107.3, 112.4, 112.8, 116.3, 120.4, 121.6, 125.2, 125.7, 126.6, 150.5, 153.5, 156.0, 168.0. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C16H16N3O5+ ([M + H]+) 330.1084. Found: 330.1095.

5-(4-(Furan-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3an). Yellow solid, yield 84%, m.p. 148–150 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.51 (s, 3H), 6.34 (d, J = 3 Hz, 1H), 6.45 (dd, J1 = 1.8 Hz, J2 = 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.31 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (s, 1H), 7.73 (s, 1H), 12.02 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.1, 104.8, 105.5, 111.8, 115.1, 119.5, 125.9, 128.0, 141.9, 149.3, 156.5, 166.5. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C12H10N3O4+ ([M + H]+) 260.0666. Found: 260.0669.

3-Methyl-4-nitro-5-(4-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)isoxazole (3ao). Yellow solid, yield 81%, m.p. 115–117 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.49 (s, 3H), 6.90 (d, J = 3 Hz, 1H), 6.99 (dd, J = 3.6 Hz, J = 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.21 (t, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.37 (d, J = 5.4 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (t, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 12.01 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.1, 105.8, 117.9, 120.2, 124.8, 124.9, 126.2, 128.0, 128.0, 136.6, 156.5, 166.5. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C12H10N3O3S+ ([M + H]+) 276.0437. Found: 276.0446.

3-Methyl-5-(4-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-4-nitroisoxazole (3ap). Yellow solid, yield 90%, m.p. 210–212 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.49 (s, 3H), 7.32 (s, 1H), 7.39 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.46–7.48 (m, 2H), 7.79 (s, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.88 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.90 (s, 1H), 12.07 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.2, 105.9, 120.3, 125.3, 125.8, 126.0, 126.6, 126.7, 127.2, 127.6, 127.9, 128.1, 128.2, 132.1, 133.0, 133.7, 156.5, 166.9. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C18H14N3O3+ ([M + H]+) 320.1030. Found: 320.1027.

(E)-3-Methyl-4-nitro-5-(4-styryl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)isoxazole (3aq). Orange solid, yield 82%, m.p. 177–179 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 2.62 (s, 3H), 6.87 (d, J = 16.2 Hz, 1H), 7.17 (s, 1H), 7.24 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (m, 2H), 7.41 (d, J = 16.2 Hz, 1H), 7.47 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H), 8.10–8.11 (m,1H), 8.83 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.2, 107.6, 116.5, 120.8, 124.0, 126.1, 126.3, 127.4, 128.6, 128.9, 137.4, 156.3, 166.4. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C16H14N3O3+ ([M + H]+) 296.1030. Found: 296.1028.

5-(4-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5-ethyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3bb). Green solid, yield 67%, m.p. 182–184 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 1.19 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 3H), 2.52 (s, 3H), 2.60 (dd, J = 7.8 Hz, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.13 (m, 2H), 7.32 (m, 2H), 7.94 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H), 8.66 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.1, 14.1, 18.9, 29.7, 108.1, 120.3, 123.9, 128.3, 131.2, 132.8, 133.2, 133.4, 156.0, 166.1. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C16H15ClN3O3+ ([M + H]+) 332.0796. Found: 332.0799.

5-(5-Allyl-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3cb). Green solid, yield 56%, m.p. 171–173 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 2.52 (d, 3H), 3.33 (d, J = 6 Hz, 2H), 5.18 (m, 2H), 5.89 (m, 1H), 7.13 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.32 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.95 (d, J = 3 Hz, 1H), 8.58 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.1, 30.1, 108.2, 118.0, 121.2, 124.2, 128.4, 129.0, 131.1, 132.8, 132.9, 134.5, 156.0, 166.0. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C17H15ClN3O3+ ([M + H]+) 344.0796. Found: 344.0797.

5-(4-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3db). Green solid, yield 81%, m.p. 257–259 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz) δ 2.44 (s, 3H), 7.14 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.22–7.25 (m, 3H), 7.30–7.33 (m, 4H), 7.98 (d, J = 2 Hz, 1H), 12.40 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6, 150 MHz) δ 12.2, 108.5, 120.5, 126.3, 127.7, 127.8, 128.1, 128.8, 129.1, 131.2, 131.7, 132.0, 132.3, 134.2, 156.3, 166.2. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C20H15ClN3O3+ ([M + H]+) 380.0796. Found: 380.0792.

5-(5-Benzyl-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3eb). Green solid, yield 78%, m.p. 197–199 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 2.52 (s, 3H), 3.93 (s, 2H), 7.14 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.18–7.19 (m, 2H), 7.26 (d, J = 14.4 Hz, 1H), 7.31–7.34 (m, 4H), 7.91 (d, J = 3 Hz, 1H), 8.43 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.6, 31.8, 108.2, 121.6, 124.5, 127.0, 128.5, 128.6, 129.0, 130.2, 131.2, 132.9, 133.0, 137.9, 156.0, 166.0. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C21H17ClN3O3+ ([M + H]+) 394.0953. Found: 394.0950.

5-(4-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5-(4-methylbenzyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-methyl-4-nitroisoxazole (3fb). Green solid, yield 83%, m.p. 167–169 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 2.33 (s, 3H), 2.52 (s, 3H), 3.88 (s, 2H), 7.03 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.13 (d, J = 7.8 Hz , 2H), 7.19 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.33 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.90 (d, J = 3 Hz, 1H), 8.46 (s, 1H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz) δ 12.1, 20.9, 31.3, 108.1, 121.4, 124.4, 127.1, 128.4, 129.7, 130.6, 131.2, 132.9, 134.7, 136.7, 155.9, 166.00. HRMS (ESI-TOF) m/z: Calcd. for C22H19ClN3O3+ ([M + H]+) 408.1109. Found: 408.1103.

3.3. Crystal Structure Determination

Single crystal of 3ac, suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis, was obtained by slow evaporation of its solution in petroleum ether-EtOAc (8:1, v/v) at room temperature. Selected light green single crystal of 3ac was mounted on glass fibers. The intensity data were measured at 293 K on a Bruker SMART APEXII CCD; cell refinement: SAINT (Bruker, Billerica, MA, USA 2007); data reduction: SAINT; program(s) used to solve structure: SHELXS97 [51]; program(s) used to refine structure: SHELXL97 [51]; molecular graphics: SHELXTL [51]; software used to prepare material for publication: SHELXTL [51]. Crystallographic data for the structures 3ac have been deposited in the Cambridge Crystallography Data Centre (CCDC No. 1552332).

4. Conclusions

In summary, we have developed an efficient tandem one-pot synthesis of the isoxazole-substituted pyrrole derivatives via [3+2] cycloaddition of TosMIC and analogs with various styrylisoxazoles. This reaction features high efficiency, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and readily available substrates. Further investigations on the bicyclization strategy of activated isocyanides for the divergent synthesis of complex architecture are currently underway in our laboratory.