Applications of Baylis-Hillman acetates:: one-pot, facile and convenient synthesis of substituted γ-lactams

A simple, convenient and one-pot transformation of the acetates of Baylis-Hillman adducts into substituted gamma-lactams, that is, (E)-5-alkyl-3-arylidenepyrrolidin-2-ones via treatment with nitroalkanes in the presence of a base, followed by reductive cyclization, using Fe/AcOH, is described. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.