Functionalised (allenylmethyl)silanes react with chlorosulphonyl isocy
anate in a highly regioselective manner to provide beta-lactams with t
he side-chain functionality of the asparenomycins. Chirally enriched (
allenylmethyl)silanes transfer their axial chirality to the carbon-cen
tred chirality in the product beta-lactams.