One-pot three-component metal-free catalytic sustainable synthesis of pyrroles from biomass-derived amino alcohols

Abstract

This paper describes a method for the efficient and sustainable synthesis of renewable pyrroles from biomass-derived amino alcohols under metal-free catalytic conditions without the requirement of additional solvents. This method is based on the Piloty–Robinson pyrrole synthesis, which involves the conversion of imines and enamines to form bisimine intermediates, thereby efficiently constructing C–C and C–N bonds and generating only ammonia and water as by-products. More than 30 pyrroles were synthesized in up to 85% isolated yield. Furthermore, green metrics were analyzed from multiple perspectives to demonstrate compliance with green chemistry principles. This study highlights the potential of biomass-derived amino alcohols and iodine catalysis in sustainable organic synthesis.