N-Heterocyclic carbene catalysed beta-lactam synthesis.
N-Heterocyclic carbenes promote the formal [2+2] cycloaddition of ketenes with N-tosyl imines to give the corresponding beta-lactams in good to excellent isolated yields; chiral NHCs give beta-lactams in high e.e. after crystallisation.
Duguet
Nicolas
N
EaStCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St. Andrews, UK.
Campbell
Craig D
CD
Slawin
Alexandra M Z
AM
Smith
Andrew D
AD