Recent developments in the synthesis of condensed β-lactams

Abstract

β-Lactams are important heterocycles with diverse pharmacological profiles and have emerged as useful organic synthons. Different variants of β-lactams condensed with carbo-/heterocycles, which have a broad range of antimicrobial activities and other useful pharmacological activities, justify a renewed interest in their synthetic developments. This review embraces an array of different reports on condensed β-lactams dating back to 2000. The aim of this review is to provide practicing and aspiring β-lactam chemists with a survey and flavor of the types of reactions used to prepare nonconventional condensed-β-lactams, and an insight into why certain methodologies are advantageous under particular circumstances.