The synthesis, characterization, and structure of a series of 4 H-thieno[3,4-c]pyrroles and their corresponding pyrrolium cyanoborohydride salts

A general, convenient route toward N-substituted 5,6-dihydro-4H-thieno[3,4-c]pyrroles was accomplished by the reductive amination of 2,5-dimethylthiophene-3,4-dicarbaldehyde with various primary amines in a solution of sodium cyanoborohydride and methanol/acetic acid (80-88% yield). For the N-alkyl cases, the product isolated was the cyanoborohydride salt of the desired product, 1,3-dimethyl-5-alkyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-thieno[3,4-c]-5-pyrrolium cyanoborohydride. For the aryl case employing aniline, the desired free pyrrole, 1,3-dimethyl-5-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole, was isolated. X-ray crystallographic analysis of both the N-propyl and N-phenyl trials confirmed the salt and free amine nature of the products.