Biogenesis of the Carbon Skeleton of Glycerinopyrin: A New Biosynthetic Pathway for Pyrroles

Ring closure of the amino acid leucine 1 and its esterification with glycerol 2 embodies a novel biogenesis of the naturally occurring glycerinopyrin 3. Such a methyl‐substituted fivemembered nitrogen heterocycle occurs otherwise in nature only without the N‐hydroxyl group in an ant phermone and might be formed in this way. The novel biosynthetic pathway to the pyrroles, the “Pigments of Life”, is of great biochemical interest. (Figure Presented.)