Five-Membered Monocyclic Aza, Oxa, and Thiaarenes

There are large numbers of naturally occurring representatives, especially of pyrrole that include the important polypyrroles (porphyrins and corrins), and the nitropyrrole antibiotics such as pyr-rolomycins and pyrroxamycin. Derivatives of furan have been used as fungicides and A-vinylpyr-rolidone is an important monomer for the production of blood plasma extenders and for cosmetic applications. On account of the similarity in the pathways for the aerobic degradation of monocyclic furan, thiophene, and pyrrole, all of them are considered here. Anaerobic degradation of furans is discussed in Part 2 of this chapter. 

FIGURE 10.1 Aerobic degradation of (a) furan-2-carboxylate, (b) thiophene-2-carboxylate, and (c) pyrrole-2-carboxylate. 

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