Towards a general synthesis of 3-metal-substituted β-lactams

Joining metals and antibiotics: Studies towards a general method for the synthesis of β-lactams that have a metal complex moiety attached to the C3-position are reported (see scheme). The cis/trans selectivity of the reactions ranges from low in complexes containing the alkyne moiety joined directly to the cyclopentadienyl ring to complete when the metal moiety is separated from the reactive alkyne by an alkynyl-aryl fragment.