Highly efficient synthesis of medium-sized lactams via intramolecular Staudinger-aza-Wittig reaction of ω-azido pentafluorophenyl ester:: synthesis and biological evaluation of LY411575 analogues

A highly efficient method for the synthesis of medium-sized lactams based on intramolecular Staudinger-aza-Wittig reaction of omega-azido pentafluorophenyl ester has been developed. A variety of 7-10 membered lactams were synthesized in excellent yields. Application of the method to the synthesis of analogues of a potent gamma-secretase inhibitor LY411575 and their biological evaluation are also described. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.