Studies on stereoselective [2+2] cycloadditions between N,N-dialkylhydrazones and ketenes.

Staudinger-like cycloadditions between chiral, non-racemic N,N-dialkylhydrazones 1 and functionalized ketenes constitute an efficient methodology for the stereoselective construction of the beta-lactam ring. The potential for fine tuning of the dialkylamino auxiliary structure, the availability of a high-yielding deprotection method for the release of the free azetidinones, and the high thermal and chemical stability of hydrazones as N-dialkylamino imines are highlighted as the key elements for the success of the strategy. This last aspect is of particular importance concerning generality: even hydrazones from easily enolizable aldehydes or from formaldehyde reacted to afford the corresponding cycloadducts with high chemical and stereochemical yields.

A practical oxidative method for the cleavage of hydrazide N[bond]N bonds.

The selective N-oxidation of the most nucleophilic amino nitrogen atom in hydrazides is central to the development of an unprecedented methodology for the cleavage of their N[bond]N bonds under oxidative conditions. Treatment of a series of hydrazides 1-9 with peracids such as magnesium monoperoxyphtalate hexahydrate (MMPP.6 H(2)O) or meta-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) afforded the corresponding amides 10-16 in good-to-excellent yields (80-92 %).