N-Boc-2-pyrrolidinone is a useful synthetic intermediate. It can be used to prepare highly functionalized N-acyl-2-vinylpyrrolidines by a 4-component Ugi reaction (isocyanide, carbonyl compounds, primary amines, carboxylic acids). It can also be used to synthesize the naturally occurring Maillard flavors via catalytic SeO2 oxidation.