[GRAPHICS]
alpha -Benzyloxy alpha -CF3-beta -lactams are shown to offer the first exam
ples of the enolate [1,2]- and enolate ortho-[2,3]-Wittig rearrangements wh
ich provide a unique entry to the alpha -benzyl-alpha -hydroxy lactams and
the alpha -aryl-alpha -hydroxy lactams, respectively. Both products are pot
ential precursors of new trifluoromethyl isoserines, and the latter is not
accessible via the usual alkylation methodology.