Titanium enolate-mediated aldol reaction of chiral N-phthaloyl-beta-al
anyl-1,3-benzoxazinone 5 with acetaldehyde furnished the (2S,3R)-syn-a
ldol 6 in high yield with high stereoselectivity. Silylation of the hy
droxy group of 6 followed by removal of the protective groups and cycl
ization gave the optically pure beta-lactam 9 which was transformed in
to the acetoxyazetidinone 3, a key intermediate of penems and carbapen
ems.