0. h cox 0 4 cox 10 a X= SPh 11 a X= SPh b X= OCH, Ph b X= OCH, Ph convenient and far superior. The derived nitroalkene 23 reacted smoothly with 4-phenyl-2-azetidinone (4a) 12 in the presence of base to produce the nitronate 5a. This was not isolated but was directly ozonolyzed in situ6 to produce the p-lactam phenyl thio ester 5b as a mixture of diastereoisomers (1: 1.3). In the optimum reaction (41%), potassium tert-butoxide in tert- ...