Thermal,photochemical and mass spectral reactions of 2-ethyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline

Pyrolysis of 2-ethyl-5-methylpyrroline ( 1 ) results in formation of 2,5-dimethylpyrrole, 2-ethyl-5-methylpyrrole, 2-ethylpyrrole and other minor products. Loss of a hydrogen atom or methyl radicals is suggested as the first step in these reactions. Support for the former comes from hydrogen atom abstraction by photo-excited benzophenone. The mass spectral reactions of 1 are briefly considered.