Synthesis of 3-phenylpyrroles by hydride reduction of 4-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-ones

3-Phenylpyrroles 2 were easily prepared in good yields by hydride reduction of 4-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-ones 1 , which have been prepared in high yields from the photoreaction of N,N-dialkylbenzoylacetamides, with lithium aluminum hydride.