Multifaceted Interception of 2-Chloro-2-oxoacetic Anhydrides: A Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of β-Lactams.

Aziridine-2-carboxylic acids (I), (IV), and (VI) react with oxalyl chloride (II) to give N-carboxyanhydrides (III), β-lactams (V) or morpholin-2,3,5-triones (VII) depending on the nature of the substituent at the 3-position.