The 5- and 6-membered cyclic amide structures with an endocyclic α-aza group embedded (α-aza-lactams) not only represent masked or protected forms of α-amino acids; but are also the core of other medicinally relevant compound families such as (thio)hydantoins and di(tri)ketopiperazines. In recent years catalytic methods have been discovered to synthesize these molecular scaffolds, particularly those bearing a α-stereogenic tri- or tetrasubstituted carbon center, enantioselectively. The wide variety of methods and catalytic activation strategies that have been successfully applied to this end in a short period of years is notable. This review covers the most significant, highlighting their differences and complementarities. The methods are organized according to the disconnection approach to the target α-aza-lactam structure which in most cases is deeply bound to the type of catalysis applied.