In our studies of the enantioselective synthesis of alkaloids via chiral a-sulfinyl ketimines,'p2 cyclic ketimines of various ring size and containing diverse substituents, eg la-h, were required. Four methods have been reported for the synthesis of cyclic ketimines:(1) additions of organolithium reagents to N-vinyllactams?(2) acid-catalyzed rearrangement of tertiary azides:(3) palladium-catalyzed oxidation of amino alkenes? and (4) additions of ...