One-pot synthesis of γ-lactams from ketoaziridines

The remarkable biological activities of γ-lactams have stimulated the search for efficient synthetic methods to achieve these scaffolds. In this work, we have developed a simple one-pot diastereoselective synthesis of new γ-lactams from ketoaziridines with moderate to good yields via the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, followed by an intramolecular ester-aziridine cyclization and its opening in situ. Preliminary efforts towards an enantioselective version of this method are also reported.

The microwave-assisted syntheses and applications of non-fused single-nitrogen-containing heterocycles

Microwave technology has emerged as a great tool for the efficient synthesis of organic compounds and it provides opportunities for chemists to achieve chemical transformations that tend to be challenging using classical approaches. Additionally, N-heterocycles are well-known for their medicinal/biological significance, along with their applications as excellent building blocks in chemical synthesis. The dominance of N-heterocycles in drug molecules and other pharmacological agents makes them attractive scaffolds, which encourages chemists to develop a wide range of strategies towards the greener synthesis and functionalization of these heterocycles. In this regard, we have collated and discussed literature relating to the microwave-assisted synthesis and the modification of non-(benzo)fused single-nitrogen-containing N-heterocycles from the past decade. The role of the microwave technique and its benefits over the conventional approach have also been emphasized in terms of overall reaction efficiency, reaction time, yield, reduced side-product generation, neat and clean reactions, chemo-/regio-/enantio-selectivity, and the use of mild reagents/reaction conditions to achieve the objectives of green and sustainable chemistry.

Chemoenzymatic Approach toward the Synthesis of 3-O-(α/β)-Glucosylated 3-Hydroxy-β-lactams

Glycosylation significantly alters the biological and physicochemical properties of small molecules. β-Lactam alcohols comprise eligible substrates for such a transformation based on their distinct relevance in the chemical and medicinal community. In this framework, the unprecedented enzymatic glycosylation of the rigid and highly strained four-membered β-lactam azaheterocycle was studied. For this purpose, cis-3-hydroxy-β-lactams were efficiently prepared in three steps by means of a classical organic synthesis approach, while a biocatalytic step was implemented for the selective formation of the corresponding 3-O-α- and -β-glucosides, hence overcoming the complexities typically encountered in synthetic glycochemistry and contributing to the increasing demand for sustainable processes in the framework of green chemistry. Two carbohydrate-active enzymes were selected based on their broad acceptor specificity and subsequently applied for the α- or β-selective formation of β-lactam-sugar adducts, using sucrose as a glucosyl donor.

Synthetic Approaches toward Monocyclic 3-Amino-β-lactams

Due to the emerging resistance against classical β-lactam-based antibiotics, a growing number of bacterial infections has become harder to treat. This alarming tendency necessitates continued research on novel antibacterial agents. Many classes of β-lactam antibiotics are characterized by the presence of the 3-aminoazetidin-2-one core, which resembles the natural substrate of the target penicillin-binding proteins. In that respect, this Review summarizes the different synthetic pathways toward this key structure for the development of new antibacterial agents. The most extensively applied methods for 3-amino-β-lactam ring formation are discussed, in addition to a few less common strategies. Moreover, approaches to introduce the 3-amino substituent after ring formation are also covered.

Cobalt carbonyl-catalyzed carbonylation of functionalized aziridines to versatile β-lactam building blocks

Aziridine to azetidin-2-one carbonylation as a convenient entry to pyrrolidines,C-fused bi- and tricyclic β-lactams and monocyclic carbapenem analogs.

A nitrilase-mediated entry to 4-carboxymethyl-β-lactams from chemically prepared 4-(cyanomethyl)azetidin-2-ones

4-(Cyanomethyl)azetidin-2-ones were efficiently prepared from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannitol, followed by a nitrilase-catalyzed hydrolysis to 4-carboxymethyl β-lactams without affecting the sensitive four-membered ring system.

Hot off the press

A personal selection of 32 recent papers is presented covering various aspects of current developments in bioorganic chemistry and novel natural products such as coprisamide A from a bacterium isolated from Copris tripartitus.