“…Several research groups have studied the aza-annulation reaction and successfully utilized it in the preparation of various nitrogen heterocycles. , Generally, the reaction of imines with α,β-unsaturated acid chlorides provided the annulation products in low yields due to the formation of an uncyclized enamide derived from an initial N-acylation, a potential competing reaction 4a. Recently, Stille et al have successfully investigated the reaction of imines with α,β-unsaturated acids in the presence of various acid-activating reagents to increase the yields of the annulation products by suppressing the uncyclized enamide formation 6g. In the case of enamines, the annulation reaction proceeded smoothly with α,β-unsaturated acid chlorides and led to the isolation of the annulation products in moderate to good yields. 4b,6c,j The aza-annulation strategy has also been extended to the preparation of five-membered lactams and 2-pyridones by reacting enamines with maleic anhydride and α,β-acetylenic esters, respectively.…”