Reaction of benzonitriles with acetylene in the KOBut/DMSO/THF system: self-organization of 2-aryl-3-ethynyl-4-aroyl-5-methylpyrroles and aminoacroleins

Benzonitriles react with acetylene gas (12–14 °C, 15 min) in the KOBu^t/DMSO/THF system to afford 2-aryl-3-ethynyl-4-aroyl-5-methylpyrroles and arylaminoacroleins that result from self-organization (in the presence of trace water) of two molecules of benzonitrile with three molecules of acetylene and one molecule of benzonitrile with one molecule of acetylene, respectively.