Reversible diastereoselective photocyclization of phenylglyoxylamides of α-amino acid methyl esters to 3-hydroxy β-lactams

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-2002-19335

Phenylglyoxylamides 1a-m were prepared from enantiomerically pure (1b-l) α-amino acid methyl esters in high yields and irradiated in acetonitrile solutions with λ = 300 nm to give the β-lactams 2a-m as photocyclization products in moderate (38 and 40perce