Abstract
A new dioxopyrroline, 4, 5-diethoxycarbonyl-1H-pyrrole-2, 3-dione (3), was proved to be a strong dienophile in the Diels-Alder reaction with various butadienes. This cycloaddition reaction proceeded in a regio- and stereo-selective manner to give the polyfunctionalized hydroindoles (4-8, 10) which may be potential synthetic intermediates of Erythrina alkaloids.