1-Phenyl-2-pyrrolidinone

In a 10 mL Shrek tube, N-phenylcyclohexylamine (0.5 mmol, 81 mg), acetonitrile (5 mL), anhydrous copper acetate (1 mmol, 181 mg), potassium iodide (1 mmol, 166 mg), and potassium persulfate complex salt (Oxone, 615 mg, 1 mmol) were added sequentially. After evacuation and oxygen purging (1 atm), the tube was placed in an 80 °C oil bath and stirred for 12 h. Then, 10 mL of saturated brine was added to quench the reaction, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (10 mL × 3). The organic phases were combined and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate.

Filter, evaporate to dryness, and separate by silica gel column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate = 3/1) to give a white solid product, 1-Phenyl-2-pyrrolidinone (47 mg, 58%).

Light Beige Solid

A novel derivative of 1-phenyl-2-pyrrolidinone, blebbistatin, inhibits non-muscle myocin II activity with high specificity.

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 77, p. 4079, 1955 DOI: 10.1021/ja01620a034
Synthesis, p. 856, 1985