Synthesis of chiral seven-membered ß-substituted lactams via Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.

Rh/bisphosphine-thiourea ligand (ZhaoPhos)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of seven-membered ß-substituted α,ß-unsaturated lactams was successfully developed to prepare various chiral seven-membered ß-substituted lactams with good to excellent results (up to >99% conversion, 99% yield, and >99% ee).