A rapid and convenient approach to α-amino-β-lactams has been developed using the tetrachlorophthalimido group as a masked amino substituent. Reaction between glycine and tetrachlorophthalic anhydride in DMF for about 90 sec in a domestic microwave oven led to an imidoacetic acid in high yield; the corresponding acid chloride reacted with Schiff bases to provide mixtures of trans and cis β-lactams. Nearly exclusive formation of trans β- ...
