Chiral tris(oxazoline)/Cu(II) catalyzed coupling of terminal alkynes and nitrones

Novel chiral Pr-i-tris( oxazoline)/Cu(ClO4)(2) . 6H(2)O catalyzed coupling of terminal acetylenes and nitrones to afford cis-disubstituted beta-lactams is described; the choice of base proves essential to both the diastereoselectivity and the enantioselectivity.