Synthesis of novel N-sulfonyl monocyclic beta-lactams as potential antibacterial agents

New cis monocyclic beta-lactams were synthesized by [2+2] Staudinger cycloaddition reactions of the imine (3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)-(4-methoxyphenyl)-amine and ketenes derived from different acyl chlorides and Et3N. These monocyclic beta-lactams were then cleaved by ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) to give NH-monocyclic beta-lactams, which in turn were converted to N-sulfonyl monocyclic beta-lactams by treatment with four different sulfonyl chlorides in the presence of Et3N and 4,4-dimethyl-aminopyridine (DMAP).