Synthesis and identification of two halogenated bipyrroles present in seabird eggs

Abstract

Two of the four halogenated bipyrroles recently discovered in seabird eggs and eagle liver samples have been identified by synthesis as 1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-hexabromo-2,2′-bipyrrole 1 and 5,5′-dichloro-1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′,4,4′-tetrabromo-2,2′-bipyrrole 2, and the structure of the latter compound, which is the major component in the mixture, is further confirmed by X-ray crystallography.