Abstract: | The synthesis of a Δ1-carbapenem and two β-lactams possessing a Br-atom at the N-substituting center not involved in the lactam ring and bearing the carboxyl group is described. The β-lactams having this kind of Br-substitution are more susceptible to nucleophilic attack than those having a conjugated double bond with the N-atom of the β-lactam ring. DBU is found to be an excellent reagent for the elimination of the silyloxy function. Moreover, a simple method for the addition of diethyl phosphite to an α, β-unsaturated double bond using a catalytic amount of NaH is described. |