Magnesiation employing Grignard reagents and catalytic amine. Application to the functionalization of N-phenylsulfonylpyrrole.

N-Phenylsulfonylpyrrole 1 is magnesiated by treatment with isopropylmagnesium chloride and catalytic diisopropylamine. Reaction with various electrophiles, including palladium-catalyzed aryl- and heteroaryl cross-coupling, provides 2-substituted phenylsulfonylpyrroles in moderate to good yields.