Practical and Convenient Synthesis of N-Heterocycles:  Stereoselective Cyclization of N-Alkenylamides with t-BuOI under Neutral Conditions

tert-Butyl hypoiodite (t-BuOI) was found to be a powerful reagent for the cyclization of N-alkenylamides leading to a variety of N-heterocycles under extremely mild conditions. When N-alkenylsulfonamides were employed in the reaction, three- to six-membered saturated N-heterocycles were obtained in good to excellent yields with complete stereoselectivity. The method was applicable to the cyclization of alkenylbenzamide derivatives to afford N-, O- or N-, S-heterocycles.