Trans Azetidinodiazepines 2 were obtained when ketenes were reacted wi
th diazepines 1. Photoisomerization of 2 gave tricyclic isomers 5 whic
h were cleaved to give the azacarbapenams 7. Acylnitroso dienophiles r
eacted with 2 to give the pair of regioisomers 8 and 9 which were tran
sformed to the azetidinoribose 12, and to the 4-amino-1-deoxyribose de
rivative 15, respectively. Anti-HIV activity of 15 was assessed.