A Structurally Diverse Library of Polycyclic Lactams Resulting from Systematic Placement of Proximal Functional Groups

A short, linear sequence for the synthesis of complex small polycyclic lactams (see picture) is presented. The sequence, which is applied to the synthesis of a library of 529 compounds, is based on a catalytic, enantioselective cycloaddition between an oxazole and an aldehyde, so that the resultant compounds are enantiomerically pure and readily prepared in either stereochemical series.