The xanthate route to lactams

Convergent routes to various classes of lactams exploiting the unique radical chemistry xanthates are described. Emphasis is placed on reactions leading by direct cyclization, intermolecular additions alkenes followed ring closure, and furnishing amino esters acids precursors that can be converted into ionic condensations. The possibility modifying existing lactam structures briefly discussed. Four-, five-, six-, seven- and, more rarely, eight-membered constructed, including seven-membered fused aromatic heteroaromatic rings. latter exemplified oxindoles, azaoxindoles, tetrahydroquinolones, tetrahydroisoquinolones tetrahydroazaquinolones, tetrahydrobenazepinones, tetrahydropyridoazepinones.