Unexpected pathway of the reaction of N-[(β-halogeno-α-tosyl)alkyl]ureas with β-oxoester enolates. Synthesis of ethyl 5-ureido-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylates and N-carbamoylpyrrole-3-carboxylates

Reaction of β-halogeno-α-tosyl-substituted N-alkylureas with sodium enolates of β-oxoesters proceeds predominantly via nucleophilic substitution of the halogen rather than the tosyl group followed by spontaneous cyclization to give ethyl 5-ureido-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylates. The latter are transformed into ethyl N-carbamoylpyrrole-3-carboxylates under acidic conditions.