Racemic marinopyrrole B by total synthesis.

The first synthesis of marinopyrrole B, which is highly active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is described. The route involved constructing a pyrrole ring on the nitrogen of a 3-bromo-4,5-dichloropyrrole by N-alkylation with a special Michael acceptor having an allylic leaving group; the second pyrrole ring was then formed by a Paal-Knorr reaction.