Pyrrole - Definition and Overview

Pyrrole is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound. Pyrrole is a five-membered ring of the formula C₄H₅N.

Pyrroles are components of larger aromatic rings, including the porphyrins of heme, the chlorins and bacteriochlorins of chlorophyll, and the corrin ring of vitamin B12.

Pyrrole has very low basicity compared to amines and other aromatic compounds like pyridine were the ring nitrogen is not connected to a hydrogen atom. This is because the lone pair of electrons of the nitrogen atom becomes delocalized in the aromatic ring.

See also

• Indole, an analog with a fused benzene ring.
• Thiophene, an analog with a sulfur instead of the nitrogen atom.
• Furan, an analog with an oxygen instead of the sulfur atom.
• Simple aromatic rings
• Pyroluria