Rhodium(I)-catalyzed allenic carbocyclization reaction affording delta- and epsilon-lactams.

This letter extends the scope of the rhodium(I)-catalyzed allenic Alder-ene carbocyclization reaction to the preparation of delta- and epsilon-lactams from amides. A variety of allenic propiolamides were cycloisomerized to give a number of unsaturated delta-lactams. In addition, allenic propargylamides give good yields of the corresponding epsilon-lactams. Formation of lactams possessing these ring sizes has rarely been accomplished via transition-metal-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond forming strategies. Thus, this approach provides an alternative strategy for synthesizing these substructures. [reaction: see text].