Recent approaches toward the generation of molecular diversity based on b-lactam structures

Abstract

One of the most significant strategies in the search of biologically promising structures is the generation of scaffold diversity. Varying molecular scaffolds yielded useful small molecule tools for chemical genetic studies of cellular protein functions, apart from “classic” drug discovery approaches. In this chapter, the latest developments for the transformation of b-lactam monocyclic moieties into complex and diverse structures are discussed. The significance of the 2-azetidinones as starting material for the synthesis of libraries of fused and non-fused multicyclic b-lactams, multicyclic (non-b-lactamic) scaffolds, as well as new heterocyclic derivatives of pyrroles, c-lactones, c-lactams, oxazinones, imidazolidines, piperazines, piperidines, among others. Finally, the importance of b-lactam-based hybrids as a new source of potential biologically active compounds, have been also highlighted.