Synlett 2005(7): 1182-1184  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-865229
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Photochemical Synthesis of N-Substituted 3-Hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinones

Markus Obkircher, Wolfgang Seufert, Bernd Giese*
Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, St. Johanns-Ring 19, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
Fax: +41(61)2671105; e-Mail: bernd.giese@unibas.ch;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 24 February 2005
Publication Date:
14 April 2005 (online)

Abstract

A new three-step synthesis to 3-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidi­nones starting from β-amino acids has been developed. The key step is a novel reductive photocyclization.

    References

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6

General Irradiation Procedure.
The α-keto ester modified β-amino acids (2 or 4) were dissolved in 200 mL CH2Cl2 in a 250 mL pyrex flask. The solution was degassed with argon during 30 min and irradiated with a cooled 180 W mercury high-pressure lamp, which was immersed in the solution. After the photoreaction was finished the solvent was evaporated, and the residue purified by column chromatography yielding the pure 3-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinones (3) or the 4-hydroxypyroglutamic acids (6).
Spectroscopic data for 3a as an example: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.53 (s, 9 H), 1.96 (dtd, J = 12.4, 10.5, 9.1 Hz, 1 H), 2.44 (dddd, J = 12.4, 8.2, 6.6, 1.5 Hz, 1 H), 3.31 (br s, 1 H), 3.52 (ddd, J = 10.9, 10.5, 6.6 Hz, 1 H), 3.83 (ddd, J = 10.9, 9.1, 1.5 Hz, 1 H), 4.37 (dd, J = 10.5, 8.2 Hz, 1 H). 13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 27.1 (CH2), 28.1 (CH3), 42.2 (CH2), 70.7 (CH), 83.6 (C), 149.9 (C), 174.8 (C). MS (ESI): m/z (%) = 425 (29) [2 M + Na]+, 224 (100) [M + Na]+, 168 (48) [M - t-Bu + Na]+.