2-(4-halo-3-oxobutanamido)acetic acid derivatives as intermediates in the preparation of pyrrolidine derivatives

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A process for preparing compounds (1) (1), where Y is NR1R2 or OR, R1 and R2 are hydrogen or C1-3 alkyl, and R is C1-3 alkyl, comprises protecting the hydroxy group of a compound (2), (2), cyclising the product under basic conditions and removing the protecting group. The compounds (2) with or without the protecting group are useful intermediates in the above process. These intermediates can themselves be prepared by reduction of 2-(4-halo-3-oxobutanamido)acetic acid derivatives. These latter are made by reacting a gammahaloacetoacetyl halide with a glycine derivative. The compounds (1) are useful psychotropic compounds which restore cognitive function in animals and man damaged by various …