The synthesis of functionalised chiral bicyclic lactam and lactone N-oxides using a tandem Cope elimination/reverse Cope elimination protocol

Functionalised hydroxylamine derivatives of (S)-proline and (R)-pipecolic acid have been prepared using a Cope elimination. These undergo reverse Cope elimination onto a pendant double bond to give bicyclic lactam and lactone N-oxides containing three contiguous chiral centres, this extends the scope and applicability of the reverse Cope elimination in the synthesis of heterocyclic systems by incorporation of the lactone and lactam structural motifs.