A NEW AND EFFECTIVE AMINOMETHYLATION BY THE USE OF<i>N</i>-(<i>p</i>-TOLUENESULFONYLMETHYL)-<i>p</i>-TOLUENESULFONAMIDE AS AN EQUIVALENT OF METHANIMINE. A CONVENIENT PREPARATION OF PYRROLE COMPOUNDS
N-(p-toluenesulfonylmethyl)-p-toluenesulfonamide was treated with base to generate N-methylene-p-toluenesulfonamide which reacted with a variety of nucleophiles forming the corresponding N-tosyl-aminomethylated compounds in good yields. Furthermore, the N-tosyl-aminomethylated acetals thus obtained were converted into the corresponding N-tosylpyrroles with the aid of acid catalyst in excellent yields.