Synthesis and stereochemistry of rac.-trans-tetrahydro-6-hydroxy-7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-thiazepin-5(2H)-one

The base catalyzed reaction of 2-aminoethanethiol ( 3 ) with trans-3-(p-methoxyphenyl)glycidate ( 4 ) gave a mixture of isomeric lactams 5 and 6 , and in addition, a by-product 7 . The structures of these isomers were proven by X-ray crystallography. The data revealed that both isomers adopt the chair conformation in the solid state and the size of the heterocyclic ring in compound 5 is a six- and in compound 6 is a seven-membered ring.