Synthetic route to a spirocyclic amide
I think this can be done in 2 steps though I can't find a literature example.


Alkylate the anion of the commercially available cyclohexane carbonitrile (cyclohexyl cyanide) with ethyl acrylate.
Hydrogenate the resulting cyano-ester over Pt to reduce the -CN to -CH2NH2 which with spontaneously cyclise to give the required product.