Synthesis of β-lactams from π-allyltricarbonyliron (lactone) complexes

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Abstract
Several π-allyltricarbonyliron (lactone) complexes have been treated with an excess of benzylamine in the presence of Lewis acids to afford the corresponding lactam complexes by an SN2′-like process. These lactam complexes were oxidised in good yield with ceric ammonium nitrate to provide a novel route to a variety of β-lactam compounds. Simple chemical transformations of the resulting β-lactams have been investigated; these include the conversion of the vinyl and isopropenyl side chains into hydroxyethyl substituents and the reductive removal of benzyl groups to afford the parent NH β-lactams.