Novel Method for the Enantioselective Synthesis of β-Lactams

A novel method for the enantioselective synthesis of β-lactams is described in this study. 2,3-Dihydrobenzooxazin-4-one derived from salicylamide and L-menthone was used as the chiral auxiliary, which reacted with α-bromo-acyl bromides in the presence of pyridine to give carboximides 2. The stereo-controlled Reformatsky-type reactions of carboximides with imines yielded the corresponding trans β-lactams with high enantioselectivities(e.e. 75%-86%) and high chemical yields(63%-85%), meanwhile, the chiral auxiliary dihydrobenzooxazin-4-one was released and recovered.