Yl. Chen et al., The stereoselective synthesis of N-aryl-trans,trans-alpha-carboxyl-beta-methoxycarbonyl-gamma-aryl-gamma-butyrolactams, SYN COMMUN, 31(20), 2001, pp. 3107-3112
Cis-1-methoxycarbonyl-2-aryl-6,6-dimethyl-5,7-dioxa- spiro[2,5]-4,8-octadio
nes (1) in dimethyl ethylene glycol at room temperature react with anilines
(2) to give N-aryl-trans, trans-alpha -carboxyl-beta -methoxycarbonyl-gamm
a -aryl-gamma -butyrolactams (3) in good to excellent yields and high stere
oselectivity.