Catalytic nucleophilic addition of olefinic CH bond to α,β-unsaturated-γ-lactams

A novel catalytic nucleophilic addition of olefins to α,β-unsaturated-γ-lactams has been developed with a cyclic N-acyliminium ion as a key intermediate. It provides an efficient approach to 5-alkenyl-2-pyrrolidinones from simple and readily available starting materials and the desired products could be obtained in moderate to good yields (23-85%).

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