[2+2] Carbonylative cycloaddition of chiral imines to various allyl halides, under CO pressure, in the presence of Et3N, a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)(2) and PPh3 as ligand, are carried out. Separable diastereomeric mixtures of chiral alkenyl-beta-lactams are isolated with good yields and high trans diastereoselections. Absolute configurations are assigned by X-ray measurements and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.