[2 + 2] Cycloaddition of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate
to chiral alkyl vinyl ethers bearing a sterogenic
center in the alkyl part of the ether afford the corresponding
azetidin-2-ones with relatively good
asymmetric induction in certain cases. Reactions were shown to
depend on steric requirements of
the ligands at the stereogenic center. The model that rationalizes
the stereochemical outcome is
based on the s-cis conformation of the vinyl
ether in which the bulkiest of the ligands is situated
in the plane of the double bond, and the next most demanding
substituent is placed gauche to the
double bond