A Convenient Synthesis Of Substituted 3-Pyrrolin-2-ones from α-Cetols

Abstract

A simple and efficient method for the preparation of the title compounds is described from cyanoacetamides and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone in the presence of sodium ethylate at room temperature. The 3-carboxamido-N-alkyl-4, 5, 5-trimethyl-5-dihy dro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones lead to unsaturated derivatives by condensation with aldehydes, while hydrogenation give rise to the corresponding pyrrolidin-2-ones.