Synthesis of nitrogen-containing spiro compounds from lactams by allylboration and subsequent ring-closing metathesis

A series of nitrogen- containing spiro[4]alkenes was prepared with excellent yields starting from lactams in two steps: allylboration on the carbonyl carbon and subsequent ring-closing metathesis of the 2,2-diallyl N-heterocycles. (C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004.