Synthesis of pyrroles and their application in C-H alkylation chemistry

A new synthetic procedure to access 3-cyanopyrroles was established. Two natural products, danaidal and suffrutine A, could be synthesized using this protocol. In addition, the role of pyrrole in the area of C-H activation was studied. It was found that pyrrole can act as a directing group in the palladium catalyzed C-H alkylation of various adjacent C(sp²)-H bonds.