Studies on pyrrolidinones. Synthesis of 4,5-fused-3-hydroxypyridinyl-2-propionic acid derivatives

The synthesis of some condensed indolizinediones derived from pyroglutamic acid is described. Treatment of these ketones in HCl, HBr or MeONa/MeOH furnished aryl propionic acid derivatives. During the ketone transformations, two sequential processes could take place in competitive manner to provide heterocyclic systems bearing carboxylic acid or hydroxycarboxylic acid function. Easy synthesis of amides indicates that potential DNA-intercalating heterocyclic systems fused on γ-carboline and isoquinoline nucleus could be obtained from these series.