Diastereodivergent Synthesis of Bromoiminolactones: Electrochemical and Chemical Bromoiminolactonization of α-Allylmalonamides

Abstract

A diastereodivergent synthesis of N-substituted iminolactones by bromoiminolactonization of α-substituted α-allylmalonamides is reported. Whereas bromocyclization under conventional chemical conditions provided cis-bromoiminolactones, electrochemical conditions exhibited complementary diastereoselectivity to afford the trans-products. A variety of substituents on the nitrogen atoms and an α-position of the malonamide were tolerated under both sets of conditions to afford the corresponding iminolactones in excellent yields and high diastereoselectivities.