New monocyclic -lactams 4-6 were synthesized by a ketene-imine [2+2] cycloaddition reaction. The prepared monocyclic -lactams 4-6 were cleaved by ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) to give NH--lactams 7-9. The NH--lactams were converted to N-sulfonyl -lactams 10-21 by treatment with four different sulfonyl chlorides in the presence of Et3N and 4-N,N-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). Some of these monocyclic -lactams were active against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.