Abstract:
A facile tertiary amine‐mediated [2+2] annulation reaction of 3‐alkyl allenoates, and diaryl 1,2‐diones leading to diastereoselective synthesis of highly substituted alkylene‐oxetane derivatives is reported. The reaction was further extended to α‐ketoamides. The obtained amide‐appended oxetanes were transformed to 5‐methylene‐1H‐pyrrol‐2(5H)‐one derivatives with potential biological activity.