Ammonia-promoted fragmentation of 2-alkyl- and 2,4-dialkyl-3-iodo-1- oxocyclohexan-2,4-carbolactones

2-Alkyl- and 2,4-dialkyl-3-iodo-1-oxocyclohexan-2,4-carbolactones undergo ammonia-promoted fragmentation reactions to provide butenolides, gamma-butyrolactone, and/or beta,gamma-epoxycyclohexanones. Product distribution is governed by the relative size of the substituents at C-2 and C-4 of the cyclohexanones. Butenolide amide, the major product from the fragmentation, is further converted into their respective piperidinone and pyrrolidine derivatives.