Synthesis of cis bis-β-lactams via Staudinger cycloaddition reaction using C2-symmetric 1,2-diamines

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of bis-β-lactams via cycloaddition reaction (Staudinger reaction) of ketenes with bisimines derived from C2-symmetric 1, 2-diamines is described. The reaction provided diastereomeric mixture of meso and C2-symmetric cis-bis-β-lactams with higher selectivity for meso-bis-β-lactams.