Synthesis of enantiomerically enriched oxazolinyl[1,2]oxazetidines

The first stereoselective synthesis of oxazolinyl[1,2]oxazetidines based on the reaction of lithiated 2-(1-chloroethyl)-2-oxazolines with nitrones is described. Highly enantioenriched oxazolinyl[1,2]oxazetidines have also been prepared starting from a 1:1 diastereomeric mixture of optically active 2-(1-chloroethyl)-2-oxazolines.