Hydro-de-halogenation and consecutive deprotection of chlorinated N-amido-pyrrolidin-2-ones with Raney-Ni: an effective approach to gabapentin

The benzoylamino group was identified as a useful radical cyclization auxiliary that can be smoothly removed on hydro-de-halogenation of chlorinated N-substituted-pyrrolidin-2-ones with Raney-Ni. This methodology was successfully implemented in a new and appealing route to the anti-epileptic drug gabapentin.