CONJUGATE ADDITION OF ORGANOCOPPER REAGENTS TO N-TOSYLATED α, β-UNSATURATED AMIDES
N-Tosylated α, β-unsaturated amides and lactams undergo facile conjugate addition with R2CuLi or RMgX/CuI (cat.).Stereoselective synthesis of trans-β,γ-dialkyl-γ-lactams can be achieved by this procedure.The resulting N-tosylamide moiety is further transformed to alcohol and several carbonyl compounds by way of reduction or nucleophillic displacement.