Three-component reaction of formyl-substituted donor–acceptor cyclopropanes, primary aromatic amines and 2-naphthol: access to cyclopropane fused 2-pyrrolidinone derivatives

Formyl-substituted donor-acceptor cyclopropanes (DACs) participate in a three-component Betti reaction along with primary aromatic amines and 2-naphthol. The Betti bases initially formed in the transformation undergo spontaneous lactamization to yield cyclopropane-fused 2-pyrrolidine derivatives. The products are isolated as single diastereomers by simple trituration in moderate to good yields.