Synthesis of Medium-Ring-Sized Benzolactams by Using Strong Electrophiles and Quantitative Evaluation of Ring-Size Dependency of the Cyclization Reaction Rate.

Benzolactams with medium-sized rings were synthesized via the electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction of carbamoyl cations (R1R2N+═C═O) in good to high yields without dilution. These reactions were utilized to quantitatively examine the extent of retardation of medium-sized ring formation, compared to five- or six-membered ring formation. The order of reaction rates of formation of cyclic benzolactams is six- > five- > seven- > eight- > nine-membered ring at 25 °C. The present reaction provides a route to eight- and nine-membered benzolactams.