2-Pyrrolidinone derivatives are widespread materials of considerable laboratory and commercial importance. In spite of this, there is no generally useful synthesis of either symmetrically or unsymmetrically 5, 5disubstituted derivatives. This is particularly true for those cases bearing aryl substituents. We describe here an effective and general synthesis of 5-mono-and disubstituted 2-pyrrolidinones (bicluding aryl and spiro substituents) from ...