Palladium(II)-catalyzed intramolecular 1,2-oxidation of allenes involving nitrogen nucleophiles

A series of allenic tosylamides have been prepared and shown to undergo palladium(II)-catalyzed cyclization in the presence of lithium bromide and a copper(II) salt to give pyrrolidines. Palladium-catalyzed 1,2-oxidation of allenic lactams in the presence of LiBr and p-benzoquinone was also studied. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.