Unexpected synthesis of 3-imino-2-(pyrrol-2-yl) isatogen derivatives affords facile access to a 2-pyrrolyl isatogen

2-Aryl isatogens and their 3-imino derivatives have been extensively studied but to date there have been no reported variants carrying pyrrolyl substituents at the 2-position. This study describes the unexpected synthesis of two novel 3-imino-2-(pyrrol-2-yl) isatogen derivatives upon attempted amide couplings with (E)- or (Z)-3-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-2-(2-nitrophenyl)acrylic acids and p-phenylenediamines in the presence of uronium-based coupling reagents. Imine hydrolysis of one derivative under mild acid conditions afforded a 2-pyrrolyl isatogen in high yield. The compound showed potent in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum.