Rh-catalyzed intramolecular debenzylative cyclization of amines. Butyrolactams from benzylamines having a chloroacetylene moiety

When benzylamines having a chloroacetylene moiety were heated in wet toluene with a catalytic amount of rhodium trifluoroacetate dimer, intramolecular debenzylative cyclization took place to give butyrolactams. This method is a new entry to selective debenzylation of amines.