N-sulfonylated lactams of various ring sizes (from 5- to 8-membered rings) followed by a ring contraction reaction. The selective monohalogenation of N-sulfonyl lactams has been achieved in modest to excellent yields (9 examples, 39–96%) using N-halogenosuccinimides via the in situ generation of trimethylsilyl ketene aminal derivatives. The so-obtained α-halogeno N-sulfonyl lactams were engaged in