LAUSR

An expeditious approach for the synthesis of diverse five-membered lactams through nickel-catalyzed annulation of the C(sp3)–H bonds of aliphatic amides with alkynylsilanes assisted by an 8-aminoquinolinyl directing group is reported, delivering the corresponding lactam derivatives in moderate to high yields. It is worth noting that alkynylsilanes are employed for the first time as coupling partners in the transition-metal-catalyzed functionalization of C(sp3)–H bonds of aliphatic amides. Equimolar amounts of alkynylsilanes and aliphatic amides are utilized, which greatly increases the efficiency of this protocol.