Synthesis and Fungitoxicity of β-Lactams Derived from Aldimines and Ketimines

Addition of chloroketene to 2-hydroxybenzalaniline, 2-hydroxyphenyl-ethylideneanilines and their N-phenyl derivatives resulted in the formation of solid products which on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral studies were assigned 2-azetidinone structure (Ia-Xa) having esterified phenolic group. They were tested in vitro for their antifungal activity against Curvularia lunata, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum and Myrothecium roridum. The compound la was highly active exhibiting ED₅₀ of 150–380 ppm against all the four test fungi.