Reaction of the ethylene acetals of β-nitroenones 3 with isocyano-acetates followed by acidic hydrolysis allowed the synthesis of 3-alkanoylpyrrole-2-carboxylates 9a-f and 7-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-isoindole-1-carboxylates 9g-i in good yield. 3-Alkanoyl-4-nitropyrroles 11a,b were obtained using 3 and tosylmethyl isocyanide.