Asymmetric synthesis of delta-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactams by ring closing metathesis of enantiomerically pure N-acryloyl-homoallylic amines.

Optically pure secondary homoallylic amines, obtained by highly diastereoselective addition of allylmetal reagents to imines derived from chiral amines, were N-dealkylated, and the primary amines were converted to N-acryloyl amides. Then, ring closing metathesis gave delta-substituted delta-lactams in good overall yields.