Oxidative N-deprotection of 2-azetidinones using silver(II)-persulfate complexes as a twin oxidant/co-oxidant

N-p-Methoxyphenyl, N-p-ethoxyphenyl, N-4-methoxynaphth-1-yl, and N-p-methoxybenzyl 2-azetidinones readily undergo oxidative N-dearylation to afford NH-2-azetidinones using a silver(II)-persulfate complex. The ease of preparation and stability of the reagents, neutrality of the reaction medium, fast conversions, good-to-excellent yields of products, and the mildness of the reaction conditions are some advantages of this method.