Sequential Nucleophilic Arylation/Ring-Contractive Rearrangement of N-Alkoxylactams

Org Lett. 2020 Dec 18;22(24):9740-9744. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c03821. Epub 2020 Dec 2.

Abstract

A nucleophilic addition/ring-contractive rearrangement of α-bromo N-alkoxylactams with organometallic reagents was developed, providing an efficient access to α-acylpyrrolidines incorporating various C(sp2) units such as aryl, heteroaryl, and alkenyl groups. The sequential reaction proceeds through a five-membered chelate formation using nucleophilic addition followed by ring contraction via the formation of N,O-hemiaminal with good yields and a broad substrate scope. Moreover, a preliminary result with the use of the chiral N-alkoxylactam for the diastereoselective reaction is described.