Amino amides react as trinucleophiles with vinyl vicinal tricarbonyl esters. Reaction of the primary amino group takes place at the@-position of the a,@-unsaturated ketone along with addition to the central carbonyl group. In a third-stage reaction, the amide residue adds to the iminium ion formed from the intermediate carbinolamine. The resulting product is a bicyclic or tricyclic (acylamino) py-rrolidone carboxylate. A novel tricyclic 3- ...