Oxidation of N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-2-pyrrolidinones to N-(4-methoxybenzoyl)-2-pyrrolidinones. Rapid entry to optically active aniracetam analogues

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(96)00732-6

Oxidation of readily available N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-alkylpyrrolidin-2-ones to the corresponding N-(4-methoxybenzoyl)-5-alkylpyrrolidin-2-ones gives direct access to enantiomerically pure 5-alkyl analogues of the cognition activating agent Aniracetam.