George G. Hazen

A Safer Diazotransfer Reagent

Abstract Diazotransfer reagents and reactions are achieving increasing use and prominence. While textbooks and periodicals give explicit warnings concerning diazoalkanes, the hazardous nature of related azido compounds is hardly mentioned though the widely used tosyl azide has the explosive power and impact sensitivity of tetryl1. Investigators at Dynamit Nobel have stated that pure p-tosyl azide is classified as an explosive according to German law and have, by tests, shown it to be as dangerous as TNT2.

An efficient β-amino acid cyclodehydration using methanesulfonyl chloride to thienamycin intermediate 3-[1-hydroxyethyl]-4-[methoxy carbonylmethyl]-azetidin-2-one

Abstract A new process for β-amino acid 1 cyclodehydration to β-lactam 2 using methanesulfonyl chloride/ sodium bicarbonate is described.