Passerini/Tsuji-Trost strategies towards achieving lactams and cyclopentane derivatives.

The Passerini reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes affords suitable substrates for the Tsuji-Trost reaction with various carbon based-nucleophiles. The resulting α,β-unsaturated amides may be cyclized to lactams or converted into cyclopentane derivatives if bis-nucleophiles are used in the Tsuji-Trost step.