Methods for preparing cyclic carbamates and thiocarbamates containing cyanopyrrole moieties and of the formula are provided. ##STR00001## Z are the same or different and are H, optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl, or COR.sup.A; R.sup.A is H, optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl, optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkoxy, or optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 aminoalkyl; Q are the same or different and are H, OH, NH.sub.2, CN, halogen, optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl, optionally substituted C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkenyl, optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkynyl, optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkoxy, optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 aminoalkyl, or COR.sup.B; and R.sup.B is H, optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl, optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkoxy, or optionally substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 aminoalkyl.Compounds including 2-amino-5-(5-cyano-1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl) benzoic acid methyl ester, 5-[4-amino-3-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-phenyl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2-car- bonitrile, and 2-amino-5-(5-cyano-1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-phenyl-ethanone, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and the uses thereof are also provided.