Novel efficient synthesis of 1-azabicyclo[1.1.0]butane and its application to the synthesis of 1-(1,3-thiazolin-2-yl)azetidine-3-thiol useful for the pendant moiety of an oral 1β-methylcarbapenem antibiotic L-084

1-Azabicyclo[1.1.0]butane 2 was successfully synthesized by treatment of 2,3-dibromopropylamine hydrobromide 4 with organolithium compounds and was readily converted to 1-(1,3-thiazolin-2-yl)azetidine-3-thiol hydrochloride 1 and versatile azetidine derivatives 9 and 10. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.