Densely functionalized chiral pyrroles from endocyclic, exocyclic, and acyclic vinyl sulfone-modified carbohydrates.

A wide range of vinyl sulfone-modified carbohydrates have been prepared as starting materials for the synthesis of polysubstituted chiral pyrroles. All these vinyl sulfones reacted efficiently with ethylisocyanoacetate to generate a plethora of new pyrrole derivatives. Furanosyl rings opened up during pyrrole synthesis, and pyranosyl rings were opened up by reacting the pyrrole with POCl(3)/DMF. This paper also reports one of the most efficient and practical routes for the synthesis of beta-substituted pyrroles.