Abstract: A process for producing a 4-substituted azetidinone derivative represented by the following general formula ?III!: ##STR1## (wherein OR is a protected hydroxy group, Y is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a silyloxy group, a carbamoyloxy group, an amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, and n is an integer of 0 or 1, provided that n does not represent 0 when Y is an alkoxy group, silyloxy group, carbamoyloxy group or amino group), characterized in that a 2-azetidinone derivative represented by the following general formula ?I!: ##STR2## (wherein OR is as defined above, and X is an alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group) is reacted with thiocarboxylic acid represented by the following general formula ?II!:HSCO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Y ?II!(wherein Y and n are respectively as defined above) in an organic solvent in the presence of copper compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the synthesis of .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated ketones which comprises, in the method for the synthesis of .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated ketones represented by general formula ##STR1## reacting aldehydes represented by general formulaR.sup.1 CHO(where R.sup.1 is as defined above) with alkali metal salt of acetoacetic acid represented by general formula ##STR2## (where M.sup..sym. is an alkali metal ion), in the presence as a catalyst of 3-azabicyclo[3,2,2]nonane, a cyclic secondary amine represented by general formula (1) ##STR3## a cyclic secondary amine represented by general formula (2) ##STR4## (where, l is 1 or more and up to 6, a ring with N is a 6-membered, 7-membered or 8-membered ring, the two neighbors of N are methylene, R.sup.3 is a lower alkyl group, its substitution position is at a carbon atom other than two those adjacent to N, and ##STR5## is an alicyclic group or a phenol group), or a secondary amine represented by general formula (3)CH.sub.3 NHCH.