Microwave irradiation versus conventional heating in the synthesis of N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone catalyzed by highly active copper powder

A convenient one-pot synthesis of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is achieved either by conventional heating or microwave irradiation. The intermediate N-methyl-4-hydroxybutyramide formedfromthe exothermic reaction of γ-butyrolactone with aqueous methylamine undergoes an intramolecular condensation reaction catalyzed by highly active copper powder to formthe pyrrolidone in good yield.