Oxidation of N-hydroxyazetidines: A novel synthesis of N-acetoxy β-Lactams and four-membered cyclic nitrones

The N-hydroxyazetidines $\text{2}$ and $\text{3}$ are prepared startinfrom 2,3-dihydroazete 1-oxides ($\text{1a}$ and $\text{1b}$0 by reduction with sodium borohydride and by reaction with a nucleophile, respectively. The N-thydroxyazetidines $\text{2}$ and $\text{3}$ can be oxidized with mercury (II) oxide to the corresponding nitrones $\text{1}$; oxidation of the N-hydroxyazetidine $\text{2a}$ (unsubstituted at C-4) with $\text{two}$ equivalent of lead tetraacetate tyields the N-tacetoxy β-lactam $\text{4}$.