The synthesis of bicyclic pyrazolidinone 2 is described. Traditional m
ethods for penem and cephem ring cyclization were found to be unsucces
sful and new methodology using a Curtius rearrangement was utilized. T
he 3-enamine 11 was hydrolysed to the desired beta-keto ester 2b witho
ut substantial loss of the t-BOC protecting group. Copyright (C) 1996
Elsevier Science Ltd