The Friedel–Crafts acetylation of methyl 2-pyrrolecarboxylate, 2-pyrrolecarboxaldehyde, and 2-pyrrolecarbonitrile was investigated and found to give 4-substitution mainly or exclusively. The 4-acetyl-2-substituted products were converted into the 4-acetyl-2-acid, and then into 3-acetylpyrrole (methyl 3-pyrryl ketone). The Friedel–Crafts isopropylation and the bromination of both methyl 3-pyrrolecarboxylate and 3-acetylpyrrole were found to produce almost exclusively 5-substituted products.