Five-membered 2,3-dioxoheterocycles: LXXXIII. Synthesis and thermolysis of 1-aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones

The reaction of (Z)-2-amino-1,4-diarylbut-2-en-1,4-diones with oxalyl chloride led to the formation of 1-aryl-4,5-diaroyl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones that at the thermal decarbonylation gave aroyl(N-arylimidoyl)ketenes which underwent stabilization by molecular cyclization into 2,3-diaroylquinolin-4(1H)-ones.