Reaction between alkyl isocyanides and isopropylidene Meldrum's acid in the presence of bidentate nucleophiles.

The reaction between alkyl isocyanides and isopropylidene Meldrum's acid in the presence of 1,2-ethanediol leads to N (1)-(alkyl)-2-(5,7-dioxo-1,4-dioxepane-6-yl)-2-methylpropanamides. 1,3-Propanediol or 1,4-butanediol produce hydroxyalkyl 1-(tert-butyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2,5-dioxo-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylates. When the reaction was performed in the presence of catechol, bis(2-hydroxyphenyl) 2-[2-(tert-butylamino)-1,1-dimethyl-2-oxoethyl]malonate was obtained. 2-Aminophenols react with alkyl isocyanides in the presence of isopropylidene Meldrum's acid to produce 1-alkyl-N (3)-(2-hydroxyaryl)-4,4-dimethyl-2,5-dioxo-3-pyrrolidinecarboxamides in good yields.