2-Methyleneazetidines have been synthesized and isolated by the reaction of
beta-lactams with dimethyltitanocene, followed by chromatography on deacti
vated silica. Efficient conversion required that the lactam nitrogen be str
ongly deactivated. Methyl transfer predominated in reactions with phenyl an
d benzyl on the lactam nitrogen. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.