Tandem aza-Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis reactions: the stereoselective synthesis of functionalised carbocyclic amides

A one-pot, tandem process has been developed for the efficient synthesis of functionalised carbocyclic amides. A substituted cyclopentenyl trichloroacetamide was synthesised using a tandem thermal aza-Claisen rearrangement and RCM process, while an analogous cyclohexenyl trichloroacetamide was generated with high diastereoselectivity using a tandem MOM-ether directed metal-catalysed aza-Claisen rearrangement and RCM process.