Treatment of 3 with bromine in CH2C12 gave 5 in 75% yield. Nitrogen participation in the rearrangement is well precedented in similar systems. 6 All attempts to convert 5 to 7 were unsuccessful. For increased solubility and prevention of participation of the amide anion, lactam 3 was benzylated with KOH and benzyl bromide in Me2S0 and gave 4 in 71% yield. Bromination of 4 as above gave 6 in quantitative yield. In contrast to 5, 6 underwent facile ...