Strain-Promoted Nitration of 3-Cyclopropylideneprop-2-en-1-ones and the Application for the Synthesis of Pyrroles

The tunable nucleophilic nitration of 3-cyclopropylideneprop-2-en-1-ones with cheap sodium nitrite is described. This transformation proceeds with the assistance of a strained cyclopropane ring and allows for a divergent route to various synthetically useful β,γ-dinitro or γ-mononitro adducts in high yields with exclusive regio- and stereoselectivity. Additionally, a wide array of valuable functionalized N-unprotected pyrroles is achieved from the resulting β,γ-dinitro compounds via reductive cyclization strategy.