An effective and stereoselective synthesis of 3-(1'-methyl/phenylallyl)-3-phenylthio-β-lactams (3/4) using substituted allylsilane and Lewis acid is described. The reaction leads to the formation of a mixture of C-3 substituted allyl β-Lactams. However, these compounds on desulphurisation using tri-n-butyltinhydride and Raney Ni provide two separable diastereomers of the reduced product.
