Seleno-β-lactams: synthesis of monocyclic and spirocyclic selenoazetidin-2-ones

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of novel seleno-β-lactams using operationally simple strategies is presented. 3-Phenyl/benzylseleno-β-lactams, obtained from 2-phenyl/benzylselenoethanoic acids, are transformed to cis-3-chloro-3-phenyl/benzylseleno-β-lactams, which undergo reaction with various active aliphatic and aromatic substrates catalyzed by Lewis acid to produce cis-3-alkoxy-3-phenyl/benzylseleno-β-lactams and C-3 monosubstituted seleno-β-lactams. Halogen mediated intraselenyl cyclization of cis-3-(prop-2-ynyloxy)-3-benzylseleno-β-lactams affords novel spiro seleno-β-lactams.