Alpha nitro acid amides or lactams, pharm - inters

Alpha-Nitro-acid amides (I) or lactams (II) not accessible by known methods, are used as pharmaceutical intermediates. (In (I) (1): R1=H or hydrocarbon (is not >10C); R2 and R3 = alkyl or alkenyl (is not >10C); R2 may form a ring with R1 or R3. or (2) R1=H or lower alkyl); R2 and R3 = lower alkyl or jointly = alkylene (is not >4C). opt. substd. by Ph, Oalk, Oaryl or mercapto; R2 and R3 jointly with the N-atom can form an iso- or heterocyclic ring; and in (II) R'=H, lower(alkyl, Oalk, Salk), Ph, PhO or PhS; R" = H or CH3; R"' = lower alkyl). Preparation is by reacting R1CH2CO-NR2R3 in liquid NH3 with Na- or KNH2, then with a lower nitric acid alkyl ester and finally with NH4Cl between-80 and +30 degrees. In an example 31g trans-3-nitro-1,4-dimethylazetidinone-2, m.p. 82 degrees are obtained from 99g 1,4-dimethlazetidinone-2 and 70g isopropyl nitrate.