α-Methylidene- and α-Alkylidene-β-lactams from Nonproteinogenic Amino Acids

Treatment of methyl 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)prop-2-enoates 1 with conc. HBr solution afforded methyl (Z)-2-(bromomethyl)alk-2-enoates 2 , which were transformed regioselectively into N-substituted methyl (E)-2- (aminomethyl)alk-2-enoates 3 (S_N2 reaction) and into N-substituted methyl 2-(1-aminoalkyl)prop-2-enoates 4 (S_N2′ reaction). Regiocontrol of nucleophilic attack by amine was accomplished simply by choice of solvent, the S_N2 reaction occurring in MeCN and the S_N2′ reaction in petroleum ether. Hydrolysis and lactamization afforded β-lactams 7 and 8 , containing an exocyciic alkylidene and methylidene group at C(3), respectively.