A practical copper-catalyzed approach to -lactams radical carboamination of alkenyl carbonyl compounds

Functionalized -lactams are highly important motifs in synthetic chemistry. We report an efficient and novel approach to the synthesis of -lactams via a copper( i )-catalyzed cascade process involving C(benzyl)H radical abstraction, intermolecular alkene addition, and intramolecular amination reaction. Variously substituted alkenes were synthesized from vinylacetic acid, leading to the corresponding -lactams in moderate to good yields. Preliminary studies indicate that the reaction undergoes a free radical mechanism via a Cu( i )/Cu( ii )/Cu( iii ) catalytic cycle. Functionalized -lactams are highly important motifs in synthetic chemistry.