Brønsted acid-catalyzed annulation reaction of hydroxamic acids: synthesis of cyclopentane-fused isoxazolidines and their benzilic amide rearrangement.

Readily available hydroxamic acids were leveraged to access challenging nitrones in the presence of H 3 PO 4 as a Brønsted acid catalyst and engaged in an intramolecular (3+2) annulation reaction to make valuable cyclopentane-fused isoxazolidines with high yields and excellent diastereoselectivity. The products were further utilized in a unique base-promoted benzilic amide rearrangement to provide cyclopentane-fused γ-lactams bearing three contiguous stereocenters as a single diastereomer.