From non-heterocyclic precursors by closure of one bond

Azetidin-2-one formation by N—C(4) ring closure has also been observed in the irradiation of cfs-a-phenylcinnamides (143) in degassed benzene. Both cis and trans lactams are formed (68JA2333). 

There appear to be few examples of the formation of azetidin-2-ones by closure of the C(2) —C(3) bond. One reaction which fits into this category involves reaction of the iron carbonyl lactone complexes (144) with an amine to give the allyl complexes (145) which on oxidation are converted in high yield to 3-vinyl-/3-lactams (146) (80CC297). 

Intramolecular Michael addition of acrylamides (149) in the presence of piperidine gives /3-lactams (65T449). The method requires that R must be a strongly electron withdrawing 

A final method of /3-lactam 3,4-bond formation which has found fairly wide application is based on carbenlc insertion (78T1731 p. 1739). The carbenic centre can be generated by photolysis of a diazo compound as in the case of (158) (72JA1629, 79CC846) or from organometalllc precursors, for example (159) (71ACS1927). 

Formation of the /3-lactam (161) by reaction of the dianion (160) with methylene diiodide provides an example of a [3 + 1] type of ring closure (79TL2031). The insertion of carbon 

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