Abstract Keto-stabilized sulfur mono-and bisylides were obtained from N-phthalylglutamic acid and their intramolecular cyclization was studied. The intramolecular cyclization of the ylide obtained at the α-carboxy group gave a product of the pyrrolizidinedione structure; bisylide yielded a cycloheptene derivative as the result of intramolecular recombination of intermediate dicarbene. The ylide obtained at the γ-carboxy group underwent no ...