Cooperative catalysis-enabled C–N bond cleavage of biaryl lactams with activated isocyanides

Abstract

The catalytic reaction of biaryl lactams with activated isocyanides is reported for the first time. By employing a cooperative catalytic system, oxazole-containing axially chiral biaryl anilines were obtained in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The key to the success lies in the atroposelective amide C–N bond cleavage with activated isocyanides.