beta-Lactams as Synthons. Synthesis of Heterocycles via beta-Lactam Cleavage

A beta-Lactams show high chemical reactivity and ease of molecular rearrangement and a r e therefore potential synthons of value.The present communication reviews the relevant literature and describes observation made in our laboratory and elsewhere.Suitably substituted beta-Lactams can lead to multiheteroatom cyclic compounds of various sizes including derivatives of carbostyril, coumarin, diazepin, oxazepin and thiazepin of potential interest to synthetic and medicinal chemists.