[2+2] Cycloaddition of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate to the 3-O-vinyl ethe
r (8) derived from tartaric acid provides 4-alkoxy-azetidin-2-one (9)
with 91.0% d.e.. Intramolecular N-alkylation afforded clavam (11) whic
h corresponds to clavulanic acid missing the C-3 carboxylic function.