Intramolecular oxamidation of unsaturated O-alkyl hydroxamates: a remarkably versatile entry to hydroxy lactams.

The development of a versatile method for the preparation of five- to eight-membered hydroxy lactams that involves the iodine(III)-mediated oxamidation of unsaturated O-alkyl hydroxamates is described. This transformation, which is believed to proceed through the intermediacy of singlet nitrenium and bicyclic N-acyl-N-alkoxyaziridinium ions, is both stereospecific and highly regioselective in most of the 22 cases examined.