Formation of a chiral β-lactam by photocyclisation of an achiral oxo amide in its chiral crystalline state

Chiral crystals of the achiral oxo amide N,N-di-isopropylphenylglyoxylamide, prepared in large quantities, were irradiated in the solid state to give the optically active β-lactam 3-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-phenylazetidin-2-one in high optical and chemical yields.