Reaction Discovery Employing Macrocycles: Transannular Cyclizations of Macrocyclic Bis-lactams

Macrocyclic bis-lactams have been synthesized by cyclodimerization of homoallylic amino esters employing a Zr(IV)-catalyzed ester-amide exchange protocol. Base-mediated transannular cyclizations have been identified to access both bicyclic [5-11] and tricyclic [5-8-5] frameworks in good yield and diastereoselectivity. Preliminary mechanistic studies support an olefin isomerization−intramolecular conjugate addition pathway.