Oxidation of pyrrole α-methyl to methoxymethyl with ceric triflate

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(95)02161-2

Pyrrole α-methyl methyl ethers can be prepared in high yield by oxidation of pyrrole α-methyl groups with ceric triflate in methanol when the pyrrole ring also has an α-carboxylic acid ester group, and high yields of dipyrrylmethanes may be obtained in a one-pot oxidation-solvolysis reaction.