title: The acid-mediated ring opening reactions of α-aryl-lactams.
abstract: 4-Aryl-azetidin-2-ones (β-lactams) undergo ring opening with triflic acid to give cinnamamides which, in benzene, react further to give 3-aryl-3-phenyl-propionamides. Prolonged reaction times in benzene give 3,3-diphenyl-propionamide via an aryl/phenyl exchange. Lactams of ring size 7 and higher also ring open, but only 7- and 8-membered rings give pure diphenylalkylamides. AlCl(3) only ring opens the 4-aryl-azetidinones.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, UK. f.d.king@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Frank D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caddick