摘要:
A process for preparing a 4-acetoxy-3-hydroxyethylazetidin-2-one derivative having the formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a protective group for the hydroxyl group, which comprises reacting a .beta.-lactam compound having the formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are a lower alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, phenyl group or an aralkyl group and R is a protective group for N, with acetic anhydride in an organic solvent in the presence of a base, and removing the protective group for N.4-Acetoxy-3-hydroxyethylazetidin-2-one derivatives are useful intermediates for preparing carbapenem .beta.-lactam antibiotics such as thienamycin and penem .alpha.-lactam antibiotics.