The chemistry and biological potential of azetidin-2-ones

Azetidin-2-ones, commonly referred as β-lactams, represent a unique ring system, with interesting chemistry and great biological potential. Besides its well known antibiotic activity, this ring system exhibits a wide range of activities, attracting the attention of researchers. The biological and pharmacological profile of azetidin-2-ones is reviewed here comprehensively with several examples under fourteen different activity heads. The chemistry and methods of synthesis have also been discussed. Fourteen diverse biological and pharmacological activities exhibited by various azetidin-2-ones (β-lactams) are comprehensively reviewed with numerous figures and references giving ideas of their structural diversity and immense biological potential. [Display omitted] •The biological activities of azetidin-2-ones are reviewed with numerous examples and references.•Their chemistry and methods of syntheses have been discussed in concise manner.•In all 14 diverse activities of various azetidin-2-ones derivatives are reviewed.•Useful review to get more ideas on this scaffold, its derivatives and biological significance.