In the title compound, C(17)H(23)NO(5), the pyrrolidinone ring is in an envelope conformation. The tert-butyl carbonate and 4-methoxy-phenyl groups are arranged on the same side of the pyrrolidinone ring. The meth-oxy group is coplanar with the attached benzene ring. The mol-ecules are linked into chains along the b axis via C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.