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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Efficient Construction of Drug-like Bispirocyclic Scaffolds Via Organocatalytic Cycloadditions of α-Imino γ-Lactones and Alkylidene Pyrazolones
Published on: February 7, 2019
A catalytic asymmetric route to carbapenems
Micah J Bodner1, Ryan M Phelan, Craig A Townsend
1Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
Abstract:
Efficient syntheses of N-acetyl thienamycin and epithienamycin A in their readily deprotected form are reported where three contiguous stereocenters are established in a single catalytic asymmetric azetidinone-forming reaction. These examples are a template for synthesizing C-5/C-6 cis or trans carbapenems with independent control of the C-8 stereocenter. A library of oxidatively and sterochemically defined azetidinone precursors to a variety of naturally occurring carbapenems and potential biosynthetic intermediates has been prepared to facilitate studies of carbapenem antibiotic biosynthesis.
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