Abstract The novel carbapenem precursor 1e has been synthesized from L-threonine, cyclopropyl methyl ketone and benzhydrylamine (for the introduction of the azetidinone N- protecting group). Two independently prepared building blocks–sodium (2R, 3R)-2, 3- epoxybutyrate as a mixed salt with NaBr (2b) and N-(benzhydryl) aminomethyl cyclopropyl ketone (4e)–were coupled to give (2R, 3R)-N-(benzhydryl)-N-(2-cyclopropyl-2-oxoethyl)-2 ...