Following the indications of previous work, 2-pyrrolidinone moiety of piracetam and piracetam-like compounds has been opened to the corresponding amide derivatives. As found previously in the case of 1, 4-diazabicyclo [4.3. 0] nonan-9-one compounds, the cognition-enhancing activity of 2-pyrrolidinone compounds is maintained in most cases, suggesting that this moiety is not crucial for activity.