A solvent-free synthesis of ethyl 3,5-diaryl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates via triethylphosphite mediated reductive cyclization of ethyl 2-nitro-5-oxo-3,5-diarylpentanoates under microwave irradiation

Ethyl 3,5-diaryl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates have been synthesized in good yields from ethyl 2-nitro-5-oxo-3,5-diarylpentanoates by treatment with triethylphosphite under microwave irradiation. The integrity of the mechanism proposed has been augmented by 31P NMR and EIMS experiments.