“…The formation of α‐ketoamide might be due to acidic proton abstraction by base‐forming peptidyl anion, which was trapped by oxygen to give α‐ketoamide (Scheme 4). [2e,15,16] However, with the azaspiro[4.5]trienones 8 ad and 8 ae , the corresponding products 9 ad and 9 ae were isolated in 62 % and 50 % yields, respectively, without any formation of α‐ketoamide (Scheme 4). In the case of p ‐CN and p ‐NO 2 phenyl containing azaspiro[4.5]trienones ( 8 af and 8 ag ), the reaction was sluggish and gave a complex mixture of uncharacterizable products (Scheme 4).…”