Enantiomerically pure primary amines possessing an epimerizable center, such as α-amino acids and their ester hydrochlorides, undergo condensation with tetrahydro-2, 5- dimethoxyfuran 2 in acetic acid or acetic acid containing sodium acetate at 80° C for 30 min. to give the corresponding 1-(1H-pyrrolyl) derivatives with partial racemization (9–18%). By replacing the solvent with a stirred mixture of aqueous acetic acid and 1, 2-dichloroethane ...
