Samarium Diiodide Catalyzed Aza-Michael Reactions for the Formation of β-Amino Amides

Samarium diiodide is an efficient Lewis acid type catalyst for the 1,4-addition of aromatic amines onto α,β- unsaturated N-benzoyl amides affording new β-amino amides. These reactions are compared with similar aza-Michael additions involving α,β-unsaturated-N-acyloxazolidinones.