Crystal engineering for absolute asymmetric synthesis through the use of meta substituted aryl groups

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)00615-1

A significant tendency towards crystallization in chiral space groups has been found for 4-benzyloxy-2-pyridones whose phenyl groups are meta-substituted (m-Cl, m-Br, m-Me and m-OMe). Irradiation of single crystals of three of these materials leads to optically active p-lactam derivatives in high chemical and optical yields via an allowed disrotatory electrocyclization.