Beta-lactam

A beta-lactam (β-lactam) ring is a four-membered lactam.^[1] A lactam is a cyclic amide, and beta-lactams are named so because the nitrogen atom is attached to the β-carbon atom relative to the carbonyl. The simplest β-lactam possible is 2-azetidinone. β-lactams are significant structural units of medicines as manifested in many β-lactam antibiotics.^[2] Up to 1970, most β-lactam research was concerned with the penicillin and cephalosporin groups, but since then, a wide variety of structures have been described.^[3]^[4]

^ Gilchrist T (1987). Heterocyclic Chemistry. Harlow: Longman Scientific. ISBN 978-0-582-01421-3.
^ Fisher, J. F.; Meroueh, S. O.; Mobashery, S. (2005). "Bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics: compelling opportunism, compelling opportunity". Chemical Reviews. 105 (2): 395–424. doi:10.1021/cr030102i. PMID 15700950.
^ Flynn EH (1972). Cephalosporins and Penicillins : Chemistry and Biology. New York and London: Academic Press.
^ Hosseyni S, Jarrahpour A (October 2018). "Recent advances in β-lactam synthesis". Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry. 16 (38): 6840–6852. doi:10.1039/c8ob01833b. PMID 30209477.

[1] Gilchrist T (1987). Heterocyclic Chemistry. Harlow: Longman Scientific. ISBN 978-0-582-01421-3.

[2] Fisher, J. F.; Meroueh, S. O.; Mobashery, S. (2005). "Bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics: compelling opportunism, compelling opportunity". Chemical Reviews. 105 (2): 395–424. doi:10.1021/cr030102i. PMID 15700950.

[3] Flynn EH (1972). Cephalosporins and Penicillins : Chemistry and Biology. New York and London: Academic Press.

[pmid30209477-4] Hosseyni S, Jarrahpour A (October 2018). "Recent advances in β-lactam synthesis". Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry. 16 (38): 6840–6852. doi:10.1039/c8ob01833b. PMID 30209477.

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