Synthesis of α‐diaminomethylenebutyrolactams by the reaction of α‐cyanobutyrolactams with n‐trimethylsilylamines

Successive treatment of α‐cyanobutyrolactams 1 with N‐trimethylsilylamines and water gave the corresponding α‐diaminomethylenebutyrolacatms 2 in good yields. In the NOESY spectra of 2 , the E isomer, the NOE observed between β‐CH₂ (butyrolactam) and N‐CH₂ (morpholine, pyrrolidine) or N‐CH₃ (dimethylamine) indicated a cis configuration of these groups.