C-H carbene insertion of alpha-diazo acetamides by photolysis in non-conventional media.

Light from a mercury vapor high-pressure lamp was used to induce the photolytic decomposition of alpha-diazo acetamides in hexane and in nonconventional media such as water or a film. The corresponding beta- and/or gamma-lactams were obtained in reasonable yields and in some cases with good diastereoselectivities with no need to use a metallic catalyst. Experimental studies on chiral substrates demonstrated the occurrence of insertion with retention of configuration.