A multicomponent Ugi reaction involving isatin, isocyanide and β-amino acid components has been developed. The reactions proceeded smoothly to give β-lactam-containing 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles in only one step and generally high yields. When chiral, non racemic, β-amino acids were used, products were obtained as enantiomerically pure β-lactams diastereoisomers, whose relative stereochemistry was determined by X-ray analysis. For one compound, a weak antibacterial activity has been preliminarily highlighted.
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