The synthesis of chiral 5-methylene pyrrol-2(5H)-ones via photooxygenation of homochiral 2-methylpyrrole derivatives

Homochiral 2-methylpyrrole derivatives are synthesized in high yields starting from chiral amines, amino alcohols and amino acid esters. The photooxygenation of these pyrrole derivatives in the presence of a photosensitiser furnishes the corresponding α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated γ-lactams as the major products in good yields.