Tetramic acid and imidazolidinone syntheses via unexpected base induced cyclisations of alanine derived Weinreb amides

Reactions of N-protected derivatives of Weinreb amides of alanine with strong base unexpectedly gave tetramic acid derivatives or an imidazolidinone. The tetramic acid derivatives were obtained by unusual cyclisation of N-acyl N-methoxy derivatives of alanine Weinreb amide upon treatment with potassium hexamethyldisilazide and benzyl bromide. In contrast, treatment of a bromobenzylidine alanine Weinreb amide with potassium hexamethyldisilazide gave rise to cyclisation to form an imidazolidinone.