The synthesis and P388 cytotoxicity of mycalazol 11 and related 5-acyl-2-hydroxymethylpyrroles

We report a general method for the synthesis of mycalazol 11 and some related 5-acyl-2-hydroxymethylpyrroles using a Stille coupling of 5-(tri-n-butylstannyl)pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde with an acid chloride as the key step. The newly prepared 5-acyl-2-hydroxymethylpyrroles 5–7, together with the 5-carboxamido-2-hydroxymethylpyrrole 10, have been assayed for in vitro cytotoxicity against the P388 murine leukemia cell line.