Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular allylic alkylation of α-sulfinyl carbanions: a new asymmetric route to enantiopure γ-lactams

Abstract Asymmetric intramolecular palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation allowing access to disubstituted sulfinyl γ-lactams is described. The use of unsaturated amides bearing a sulfinyl group of defined absolute configuration together with enantiopure BINAP as the ligand in a biphasic medium provided good diastereoselectivities with clear solvent effect.