Iodine/K2CO3-catalyzed synthesis of multisubstituted pyrrolidine-2-carboxylates via a one-pot reaction between an araldehyde, an amino acid ester, and a chalcone

A series of more than 20 multisubstituted pyrrolidine-2-carboxylates were synthesized via a one-pot cycloaddition of an araldehyde, an amino acid ester, and a chalcone catalyzed by I-2/K2CO3 in tetrahydrofuran at 80 degrees C. The advantages of this method are readily available starting materials, mild conditions, and simple operation, and it is metal free and yields are good to excellent.