1β-Methylcarbapenem intermediates via the thiolysis of a Meldrumʹs precursor

5-{3-[1-(tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethyl]-4-oxo-azetidin-2-yl}-2,2,5-trimethyl-[1,3]dioxane-4,6-dione (3) has been submitted to nucleophilic attack with various nucleophiles. Meldrumʹs moiety transesterification, C4-substitution, β-lactam ring opening and Meldrumʹs moiety decarboxylation were observed. Reaction of 3 with ethanethiol and dimethylaminopyridine in ethanol quantitatively furnished ethyl 2-{3-[1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethyl]-4-oxo-azetidin-2-yl}-thiopropionate as the 1:1 mixture of β (7a) and α (8a) diastereoisomers.