Direct Coupling of Pyrroles with Carbonyl Compounds: Short Enantioselective Synthesis of (<i>S</i>)‐Ketorolac

Abstract

An odd couple: The union of pyrroles and carbonyl compounds (ketones, amides, esters, lactones, lactams, see scheme) is described, and by the use of an intramolecular variant of this new method, the nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (S)-ketorolac has been prepared in a short enantioselective synthesis. Mechanistic underpinnings of this reaction, which couples unfunctionalized C(sp2) and C(sp3) atoms, are also discussed.