Double deprotonation of P-ketoester (6) gives dianion (7) which serves as a synthetic equivalent of the regiospecific ketone enolate (3), providing a synthetic entry to 2-substituted pyrrolidin-3-ones (9) and (10). ... The synthetic utility of enolates derived from heterocyclic ketones such as pyrrolidin-3-ones is limited by the level of regiocontrol that can be exercised in the enolization step. In a comprehensive study, Garst and co-workers showed that the preferred mode of ...
