Synthesis of the title compound from 4-methoxyaniline was accomplished in three steps. The structure was supported by spectroscopic data and unambiguously confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction data. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 with unit cell dimensions a = 9.9349(8), b = 6.3377(5), c = 10.5783(10) Å, β = 97.752(3)°, V = 659.97(10) Å, Z = 2.

A variety of 4-phosphinylpyrrolidin-3-ones was prepared via a [3+2] cycloaddition between aryl aldonitrones and phosphinylallenes. The products were isolated as unique 4,5-trans diastereomers, in yields up to 80% over 23 examples. In the case chiral racemic allenes, 2:1 4:1 moderate 2,5-diastereoselectivity observed. Under reaction conditions, cycloadducts directly undergo rearrangement afford ...