Delineating ligand effects in intramolecular aryl amidation reactions: formation of a novel spiro-heterocycle by a tandem cyclisation process

Ligand effects for intramolecular Pd-catalysed aryl amidation reaction were examined for the synthesis of seven-membered benzolactam rings. In an attempt to produce an eight-membered ring, tandem C–N/C–O bond forming reactions occurred to give a novel spiro-benzofuran-lactam structure.