Regioselective Photochemical Rearrangement of N-Mesyloxylactams

N-Mesyloxylactams can undergo ring contraction either by C-3 (usually observed) or C-5 migration. C-5 migration can occur when the C-3 migration product possesses ring strain, but it does not usually compete with C-3 migration. The greater preference for C-3 migration is due to the carbonyl oxygen atom, which greatly stabilizes the intermediate.