Pummerer reaction intermediate as an initiating function for cationic olefin cyclization

Treatment of N-(2-methyl-2-propenyl)-N-methyl-α-(methylsulfinyl)acetamide ($\text{6a}$) with trifluoroacetic anhydride caused the cationic olefin cyclization through a Pummerer reaction intermediate to give the six-membered lactams $\text{7}$ and $\text{8}$. Similar reaction converted N-2-butenyl-N-methyl-a-(methylsulfinyl)acetamide ($\text{6b}$) to the five-membered lactam $\text{9}$, and N-2-propenyl-N-methyl-α-(methylsulfinyl)- acetamide ($\text{6c}$) to the five-membered lactams $\text{11}$ and $\text{12}$.