Photolytic reaction of chromium and molybdenum carbene complexes with imines. Synthesis of cepham, oxapenam, and oxacepham derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)91422-X

A variety of substituted β-lactams, including a cepham analog, were synthesized by the photochemical reaction of [(methoxy)(methyl)carbene]chromium complexes with substituted imines. Oxazines and oxazolines were inert towards chromium carbene complexes. Oxazines were converted to bicyclic β-lactams by the photolytic reaction of molybdenum carbene complexes. Oxazolines were considerably less reactive and produced only low yields of β-lactam product and an equivalent amount of the corresponding oxazinone, incorporating two (MeO)(Me)C(CO) groups.