Abstract α-Methylpyrroles are converted to α-formyl by sodium bromate in aqueous methanol in∼ 60% yield. Adding 1% ceric ammonium nitrate as a co-oxidant brings the isolated yields of synthetically useful 2-formylpyrroles 2a-d up to∼ 70%, or close to those found when using only the considerably more expensive ceric ammonium nitrate as oxidant.
