We have studied the behaviour of 2-acetoxy-nitroethane derivatives in the p
resence of triethylamine and of an azomethine ylide generated also by the a
ction of this base in the same reaction mixture. Under these conditions the
nitro-olefins are generated and react in situ with the corresponding dipol
es, giving pyrrolidine derivatives in moderate to good yields. (C) 2000 Els
evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.