Oxidation of /3-lactam

Fig. 25 Mechanism for the ruthenium/aldehyde aerobic oxidation of /3-lactams...

The oxidation reaction of /3-lactams can be extended to the aerobic oxidation reaction [141], Typically, the RuCl3-catalyzed oxidation of /3-lactam 70 with molecular oxygen (1 atm) in the presence of acetaldehyde and sodium carboxylate gave the corresponding 4-acyloxy /3-lactam 71 in 91% yields (d.e. >99%) (Eq. 3.83). This aerobic oxidation gives peracetic acid in situ by ruthenium-catalyzed reaction of acetaldehyde with molecular oxygen, and hence similar results with those obtained by the oxidation with peracetic acid. 

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