Acyl ketenes formed during thermal decompositions of 5-acyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxa-4,6-diones undergo stereoselective [2+2] cycloaddition to chiral aldimines. We report the first example of optically active 3-acyl-β-lactams formation from Meldrum’s acid derivatives.

The stereoselective properties of modified thiourea organocatalysts were tested in the Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indole with 5-arylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones, which produces chiral 5-((1H-indol-3-yl)(aryl)methyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones. Based on a tentative reaction mechanism for ((S)-N-benzyl-2-(3-(3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thioureido)-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamide organocatalysts, modifications...

Abstract: A one pot synthesis for preparation of 1,4-disubstituted-2-oxo-azetidine-3-carboxylic acid amides was developed. 5-(α-N-substituted-amino-α'-hydroxy)methylene Meldrum's acids act as a source of ketenes that react with aldimines in boiling toluene to give b-lactams with retro-amid side chain.

The ability to undergo [4 + 2] versus [2 + 2] cycloaddition was under investigation for ketenes thermally generated from carbamoyl Meldrum’s acid. Usually, 1,3-oxazino-5-carbamoylo-4,6-diones are formed when carbamoyl Meldrum’s acid reacts with imine. However, in some cases, a reaction takes an unexpected course, leading to the formation of tetraponerines alkaloids derivatives or cyclic iminoethers.

A one-pot synthesis for the preparation of N-alkenyl-malonamides and N-alkenyl-thiomalonamides was developed. 5-[Hydroxy/mercapto(aryl/alkylamino)methylene]-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione act as a source of ketenes that react with the tautomeric form of alkyl-(2-phenyl-propylidene)-amines. A possible [2+2] or [4+2] cycloaddition product of ketene to imines was not observed.