The synthesis of bicyclic tetramic acids based on the 'nonclassical' intramolecular Wittig reaction catalyzed by the corresponding phosphonium salt was developed. We have found that such applications proceed smoothly with high yield with N-substituted aminobutanolides when catalyzed with hydrochloride salt of the starting aminolactones. In addition, a convenient multigram synthesis of optically pure 4-hydroxy-5-substituted pyrrolidinones, including homostreptopyrrolidine as methylene homologues of naturally occurring streptopyrrolidine, via two consecutive reduction is also developed.
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