One-pot synthesis of γ-lactams in a reaction cascade from α,β-unsaturated imines, CO and ethylene catalysed by Ru3(CO)12

The formation of 1,3-dihydropyrrol-2-one derivatives in moderate to excellent yields may be achieved by sequential insertion of CO and ethylene into C-H bonds of 1-azadienes catalysed by Ru-3(CO)(12); thus two new C-C bonds and a new center of asymmetry at C3 are produced via an intramolecular aldol condensation-like cyclization.