Cobalt-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of pyrrolidinone derivatives by reductive coupling of nitriles and acrylamides.

A convenient and highly regioselective method for the synthesis of 5-methylenepyrrolidinone derivatives from various nitriles and acrylamides via a cobalt-catalyzed reductive coupling reaction is described. A possible mechanism that involves the formation of a cobaltaazacyclopentene intermediate from nitrile and acrylamide, protonation, keto-amide cyclization, and dehydration is proposed.