Abstract Michael adducts from diethyl fumarate with malonic esters or nitriles were cyclized to succinimide intermediates which, after glutarimide ring closure, afforded several N-methyl and N-benzyl derivatives of cis-1, 3, 4, 6-tetraoxoperhydropyrrolo [3, 4-c] pyridine whose configuration was demonstrated by X-ray crystal structure analysis.