Studies on pyrrolidinones. Oxidations and rearrangements in the hexahydrobenz[f]indolizine-3,10-dione series

Air oxidation of hexahydrobenz[f]indolizine-3,10-diones in MeOH/MeONa yields alcohols which are easily and selectively transformed, in very good yields, to succinimides, isoquinoline propanoic acids or dehydrated to ene lactams.