Process for the production of 4-substituted azetidinone derivative

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for the production of a 4-substituted azetidinone. The process comprises reacting ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a protecting group for N, R.sup.1 represents an alkyl which may be a substituent having an unprotected or protected hydroxyl group; and Z represents a leaving group; with ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or alkyl, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each represent hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, cycloalkyl, or naphthyl, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded, form a ring system; X and Y each represent oxygen, sulfur or N-r.sup.1, wherein r.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl; A, B, D and E each represent nitrogen or C-r.sup.2, wherein r.sup.2 represents hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, provided that at least two of A, B, D and E are C-r.sup.2 ; and a ring involving G, J and K has two carbon/carbon double bonds therein and one of G, J and K represents oxygen, sulfur or N-r.sup.1 while the remaining two represent C-r.sup.2 ; in the presence of