234 Yadav et al.
Asian J. Chem.
This method had solved the difficulties of using of stoichio-
metric amount of Lewis acid catalysts. Most of the Lewis acid
catalysts are moisture sensitive and corrosive in nature and not
benign to environment [14]. The use of strong acids for this
reaction also increased the chances of polymerization of acid-
sensitive vinyl ketone, nitrile and ester.
microwave reactor for 2-5 min at elevated temperature. The
rac-3-amino β-lactams (2a-d) was obtained in good to excellent
yield.
α-Phthalimido β-lactams (1a-d) were obtained by
Staudinger [2+2] ketene-imine cycloaddition reaction. The
ketene derived from either N-phthalimido acetyl chloride or
N-phthalimido acetic acid/triethylamine or Mukiyama reagent
as an acid activator. The stereochemical outcome of β-lactam
formation was greatly depending on the mode of addition of
base to acid chloride or acid chloride to base. In addition, de-
protection of α-phthalimido-β-lactams to α-amino β-lactams
was also investigated [18].
Numerous substituted β-lactams (α-acetoxy, α-hydroxy,
α-amido, α-unsubstituted, α-tosylate, α-sulfonamide, α-alkoxy,
α-ether, α-benzyl ether, α-halo, α-carboxylate, α-amino, α-
tosylate, α-mesylate) were prepared and tested against a variety
of cancer cell lines. A few of them were also evaluated in vitro
at the US National Cancer Institute against a panel of 60 cancer
cell lines in 2001-2002 Diverse pyrrole-substituted β-lactams
were prepared through 3-amino β-lactams [19].
Aza-Michael addition of 3-amino-β-lactams with enones
was performed. In this context, racemic trans-3-amino-α-lactam
(2) was reacted with methyl vinyl ketone (3) (Scheme-III) in
the presence of catalytic amounts of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O in THF
as the solvent under microwave condition. The reaction mixture
was allowed to irradiate for 2-6 min at ambient temperature in
an automated microwave reactor. The reactions proceed
smoothly and the products (4a-d) were obtained along with
substantial amount of bis-aza-adduct (5a-d) in good yield
(Table-1).
EXPERIMENTAL
General procedure for the synthesis of Michael
products: To amino β-lactam (1 mmol) was added ketone (2
mmol) in THF (0.2 mL) and bismuth nitrate pentahydrate (2.10
g, 10 mol%). The mixture was irradiated in an automated
microwave oven at 50 ºC for a short period of time (Table-1).
After the reaction, dichloromethane was added to the reaction
mixture, it was washed with Na2CO3 solution (10 %, 2 mL),
brine (2 mL), dried with sodium sulfate and the solvent was
evaporated. The crude product was purified over silica gel using
ethyl acetate and n-hexane (30: 70) as the solvents.
TABLE-1
AZA-MICHAEL REACTION OF rac-α-3-AMINO
β-LACTAMS (2a-d) WITH METHYL VINYL KETONE (3)
Amine (2)
R1
Yielda
4:5 (%)
Timeb
(min)
Entry
T (°C)
R
1
2
3
4
Ph
PMP
Ph
50:50
60:40
80:20
90:10
50
50
50
50
2
4
6
6
Ph (2a)
Ph (2b)
Cinnamyl (2c)
Cinnamyl (2d)
PMP
aYield of pure isolated mono-and bis-adducts 4 and 5; bHeating time
PMP = para-methoxy phenyl
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
O
O
H
The starting compound for Michael reaction was rac-3-
amino β-lactams (1a-d). Synthesis of α-amino β-lactams (2a-
d) was achieved by a de-protection of an α-phthalimido group
in β-lactam (1a-d) by ethylene diamine and other reagents in
excellent yield under microwave irradiation [15-17] (Scheme-
II).
NH2
N
N
N
O
3
O
R2
O
R1
R1
O
O
+
N
R
2
N
R
4
Bi(NO3).5H2O
MWI
R
5
Scheme-III: Aza-Michael rection under microwave condition
H
H
N
H H
N
Z
R2
R1
H2N
R2
Regardless of reaction time, catalyst loading and molar
MWI
ratio of acceptor, mono-aza adduct 4 was not formed selec-
tively. The crude products formed were purified by column
chromatography (Table-1).
The method was then extended to optically active 3-amino
β-lactams 8. Enantiopure α-3-amino β-lactams 8 were obtained
by reported method [20]. The chiral induction was achieved
by the imine component 7 by a reaction with N-phthalimido
acetic acid 6 in presence of Mukiyama reagent as an acid acti-
vator under basic conditions (Scheme-IV).
NH2.CH2CH2.NH2
solventless
2a
O
O
R1
rac (+/-) - trans
rac (+/-) - trans
R1 = Ph R2 = Ph (90%)
2b R1 = PMP R2 = Ph (85%)
2c R1 = Ph R2 = cinnamyl (85%)
1a
R1 = Ph R2 = Ph
1b R1 = PMP R2 = Ph
1c R1 = Ph R2 = cinnamyl
2d
R1 = PMP R2 = cinnamyl (75%)
1d
R1 = PMP R2 = cinnamyl
O
z =
N
H
O
O
Et3N(2.5 equv.)
Mukaiyama reagent
(3.0 equv.)
H H
Z
Scheme-II: Mild and efficient ethylenediiamine mediated deprotection of
N-phthalimido group. A facile synthesis of ( ) rac-trans-3-
amino β-lactam
(S)
O
(R)
(R)
O
H
N
O
(S)
Z
+
N
R
O
COOH
CH2Cl2
0 0C-rt
R
80-90%
This de-protection reaction was performed in solvent or
without solvents. The reaction protocols were involved in treat-
ment of N-phthalimido-β-lactam (1a-d) with 1.0 M solution
of ethylene diamine in THF under the exposure of automated
7
6
8
Z= N-phthalimido (NtPh) R = Ph, PMP, 4-Me.C6H4-,4-X.C6H4- etc.
Scheme-IV: Asymetric staudinger [2+2] ketene-imine cyloaddition reaction