Pyrroles Reactions and Synthesis

Pyrrole and the simple alkyl-pyrroles are colourless liquids, with relatively weak odours rather like that of aniline, which, also like the anilines, darken by autoxidation. Pyrrole itself is readily available commercially, and is manufactured by alumina-catalysed gas-phase interaction of furan and ammonia. Pyrrole was first isolated from coal tar in 1834 and then in 1857 from the pyrolysate of bone, the chemistry of which is similar to an early laboratory method for the preparation of pyrrole - the pyrolysis of the ammonium salt of the sugar acid, mucic acid. The word pyrrole is derived from the Greek for red, which refers to the bright red colour which pyrrole imparts to a pinewood shaving moistened with concentrated hydrochloric acid. 

Another porphobilinogen-derived system is vitamin B12, the structure of which is significantly different, though related to chlorophyll and haem. The parent, unsubstituted macrocycle is called corrin. 

Ketorolac, an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent, is equal to morphine sulfate on a weight-to-weight basis for the alleviation of post-operative pain. Atorvastatin lowers chlolesterol levels. 

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