Manganese-catalyzed bicyclic annulations of imines and α,β-unsaturated esters via C-H activation

A manganese-catalyzed bicyclic annulation of imines with α,β-unsaturated esters via C–H activation is described, which provides an expedient access to fused β-lactams in one-step operation with high efficiency and good functional group tolerance. Of note, both ketimines and aldimines are amenable to this transformation. Mechanistic studies have identified a five-membered azamanganacycle as the key reaction intermediate.