One-Pot Synthesis of Chiral α-Methylene-γ-lactams with Excellent Diastereoselectivities and Enantioselectivities

An efficient one-pot asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted γ-lactams containing α-methylene groups has been successfully developed. A wide range of γ-lactams could be obtained in high yields with excellent diastereomeric ratios of up to 99:1 in favor of trans isomers. In particular, excellent enantioselectivities of the two newly formed stereogenic centers with up to 99% ee were observed.