Synthetic methods for γ-lactam and pyrrole derivatives exploiting a three-component coupling strategy

4-Aryloxymethyl-3-pyrrolines and their isomeric pyrrolidines--assembled via a one-pot, three-component coupling of propargylic amines, vinyl sulfones, and phenols--may be elaborated further to provide an easy access to 2,4-disubstituted pyrrole-3-carboxylates and 3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidin-2-ones. The latter were prepared by means of an unprecedented rearrangement process involving hydrogenolysis of 2-aryl pyrrolidine-3-carboxylates, whereas the pyrrole carboxylates arose from aromatization of the corresponding pyrrolines.