Shell Oil Comapny

Paul H Briner

Ronald F Mason

Derek A Wood

The novel ester, N-benzylazetidine-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester and its use in the preparation of the corresponding free acid by a process which comprises reacting N-benzyl-3-cyanozetidine with methanol and hydrolyzing the resulting methyl ester with hot water.

Azetidine-3-carboxylic acid derivatives

A process for the preparation of 1-substituted azetidin-3-ol derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group in which the alkyl moiety contains up to eight carbon atoms, by cyclizing a solution in triethylamine of an aminoalcohol of the formula: ##STR2## in which Hal represents a halogen atom and the use of such derivatives as intermediates for the preparation of azetidine-3-carboxylic acid derivatives.

Preparation of 1-benzylazetidine-3-ol derivatives

Novel compounds of the general formula ##STR1## in which X is hydrogen or chlorine, and each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, are useful intermediates in the preparation of the corresponding phenols. They may be prepared by treating a compound of the formula ##STR2## in which Hal is chlorine or fluorine, with a compound of the formula

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Faversham, United Kingdom

Paul H Briner