Condensation of N-arylidene amines with succinyl anhydride or with glu
taric anhydride giving respectively pyrrolidin-5-ones carboxylic acids
(1) under bar-(7) under bar and piperidin-6-ones carboxylic acids <(1
3)under bar>-<(17)under bar> is described. Trans acids are obtained by
fractional crystallization. Various esters (8) under bar, <(11)under
bar>, <(12)under bar>, alcohols (9) under bar, <(10)under bar> and imi
dazolides <(18)under bar>-<(30)under bar> of pyrrolidinones and piperi
dinones are prepared.