An efficient and novel approach for the synthesis of substituted N-aryl lactams.

A quick, efficient, one-pot method for the synthesis of substituted N-aryl lactams through the reaction of various kinds of corresponding substituted arenes with a variety of ω-azido alkanoic acid chlorides using a Lewis acid (i.e. EtAlCl(2)) at room temperature, through the in situ involvement of a Friedel-Crafts reaction followed by intramolecular Schimdt rearrangement was developed, and afforded good to excellent yields.