Enantioselective photocyclization of amides to beta-lactam derivatives in inclusion crystals with an optically active host

Irradiation of inclusion crystals of 2-(N-acyl-N-alkylamino)cyclohex-2-enones and N,N-dimethylphenylglyoxylamide with chiral host molecules gave the optically active N-alkyl-1-azaspiro[3.5]-nonane-2,5-diones and 3-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-phenylazetidin-2-one, respectively. The crystal structure of the 1:1 inclusion complex of N,N-dimethylphenylglyoxylamide with (-)-trans-1,4-bis[3-(o-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylprop-1-ynyl]-2,3,5,6- tetrachloro-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-diol was analyzed by X-ray diffraction.