Pd-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of pyrrolo-2-carboxamides: regiodivergent routes to pyrrolo-pyrazines and pyrrolo-pyridines

Treatment of N-alkyl-N-allyl-pyrrolo-2-carboxamides with catalytic amounts of palladium derivatives gave regioselectively intramolecular cyclizations to generate bicyclic pyrrolo-fused structures. Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-1-ones were achieved in high yields by an amination reaction, while pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-7- ones and pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-4-ones were obtained by an oxidative coupling process.