Synthesis of lactams via copper-catalyzed intramolecular vinylation of amides.

Copper-catalyzed intramolecular vinylation of iodoenamides were investigated for the first time. With CuI as the catalyst and N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine as the ligand, a number of iodoenamides underwent cyclization in dioxane leading to the formations of five- to seven-membered lactams in moderate to excellent yields.