Abstract
Benzoyl peroxide converts pyrroles into 2-hydroxy-and 2, 5-dihydroxy O-benzoates. The mono-and di-O-benzoates of N-substituted pyrroles were prepared by this convenient one-step procedure. The mechanism was discussed in terms of both homolytic and heterolytic factors, and general aspects of homolytic substitution of the pyrrole ring were also discussed in comparison with other five-membered heterocycles. On treatment with benzoyl peroxide N-substituted pyrrole-2-methanols undergo novel C-C cleavage to give the O-benzoates.
