β-Lactams. XII.: A study of the synthesis of N-unsubstituted β-lactams, and of 4-styryl monobactams

Abstract
A few types of amines XNH2 were investigated for the formation of β-lactams via the cycloaddition of the corresponding Schiff bases with azidoacetyl chloride. Among the β-lactams formed, only the N-p,p′-dimethoxybenzhydryl compounds could be transformed to N-unsubstituted azetidinones by removal of the N-substituent with ceric ammonium nitrate. Conversion of those N-unsubstituted intermediates to 3-acylated monobactams was studied in the 4-styryl series.