FeCl₃-Catalyzed Synthesis of N-Substituted Pyrroles in Water

Significance

Reported is the synthesis of N-alkyl, N-aryl, N-sulfonyl, and N-acyl pyrroles through the iron chloride catalyzed reaction of the requisite amine with 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran in water. It is likely that the true catalyst is HCl from the reaction of iron chloride with water, as other acids such as HCl and AcOH were also effective in the reaction (10 comparisons of HCl and AcOH with FeCl₃ were given).