β-Alkenylation of Saturated N -Heterocycles via a C(sp 3 )-O Bond Wittig-like Olefination.

Although the C-H α functionalization of N -heterocycles is, in fact, an easy chemical transformation, the C-H β functionalization is, on the contrary, a quite difficult chemical process. Here, we present a two-step protocol that allows the ready conversion of pyrrolidines, piperidines, and an azepane into their corresponding 3- exo -alkenyl lactams via the transient formation of 3-alkoxyamino lactams followed by a Wittig-like C(sp 3 )-O bond olefination with stabilized ylides from phosphonium salts mediated by t -BuOK. Additionally, as a proof of the synthetic effectiveness of this novel methodology, the first synthesis of the natural product callylactam A was achieved through a TiCl 4 -catalyzed double bond isomerization of a 3- exo -alkenyl 2-piperidone to its endo- isomer.