Three‐Component Reaction of an Isocyanide and a Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylate with a Phenacyl Halide in the Presence of Water: An Efficient Method for the One‐Pot Synthesis of γ‐Iminolactone Derivatives

The zwitterion, formed from the reaction of an alkyl isocyanide and a dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, reacts with phenacyl halides in H 2 O to produce γ ‐iminolactone derivatives in high yields. H 2 O helps to avoid the use of highly toxic and environmentally unfavorable solvents for this conversion.