Synlett 2003(12): 1937-1939  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-41497
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Bicarbonate Salts as Cost-Effective Bases for the Synthesis of Ketenes and Their Synthetic Equivalents Applied to the Asymmetric Synthesis of β-Lactams

Meha H. Shah, Stefan France, Thomas Lectka*
Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
Fax: +1(410)5168420; e-Mail: lectka@jhu.edu;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 27 June 2003
Publication Date:
19 September 2003 (online)

Abstract

We report the use of bicarbonate salts as viable alternative­s to more expensive bases for the in situ generation of ketenes and their synthetic equivalents. We have successfully applied­ this to the catalytic, asymmetric synthesis of β-lactams.