[0001] This invention provides a superior method for the removal of the p-nitrobenzyl (hereinafter
abbreviated to "pNB") ester group from cephalosporin carboxylic acids. The process
is economically important, because cephalosporin antibiotics are often processed in
the form of pNB esters, since the esters are convenient and economical to handle in
chemical processing. The ester group must eventually be removed, however, because
the cephalosporins are used as pharmaceuticals in the acid or salt form.
[0002] The pNB ester group has. been used in the manufacture of cephalosporins for some
time. See U.
S. Patent 3,632,850, of Garbrecht. The pNB group has been removed chemically, such
as with zinc and a strong acid, or catalytically, as taught by Garbrecht. Other deesterification
methods have since been devised, such as the methods of Hatfield, using zinc and an
a-hydroxycarboxylic acid, U.S. Patent 4,091,214, or zinc and an organothiol, Belgian
Patent 856,288, and the method of Jackson, U.S. Patent 3,799,924, using a dithionite
salt.
[0003] All of the chemical and catalytic methods of deesterification, however, have the
disadvantage that they may affect functional groups of the molecule other than the
pNB ester.
[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a process for removing the pNB
ester protecting group from a cephalosporin 4-carboxylic acid pNB ester thereby liberating
the free cephalosporin 4-carboxylic acid; characterized in that the pNB ester is electrolytically
reduced in an acidic liquid medium comprising from about 0 to about 50% water, an
acid having a pK
a determined in water of 0 or below, the amount of said acid being at least four moles
per mole of the compound to be reduced, and an organic solvent substantially inert
to electrolytic reduction, at the working electrode of an electrolytic cell, said
working electrode substantially comprising carbon, mercury, tin, aluminum, silver,
copper, lead, chromium, zinc, nickel or cadmium, at a temperature from about 0°C.
to about 75°C., at a potential in a range from about the potential of the initial
onset of current flow of the first reduction to about the potential of the initial
onset of current flow of the second reduction.
[0005] Preferred compounds prepared by the process of the invention are those having the
formula:
wherein X is hydrogen;
m is 0 or 1;
R2 is hydrogen or methoxy;
R is hydrogen or -COR3;
R3 is hydrogen, Cl-C3 alkyl, halomethyl, benzyloxy, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxy, t-butoxy,

or

wherein R is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl and R8 is hydrogen or an amino-protecting group;
R4 is cyclohexadienyl or phenyl, or-cyclohexadienyl or phenyl substituted with one or
two halo, hydroxy, protected hydroxy, aminomethyl, protected aminomethyl, C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 alkoxy groups;
n is 0 or 1;
R5 is hydroxy, protected hydroxy, amino, protected amino, carboxy or protected carboxy;
R6 is 2-thienyl, 2-furyl, 5-tetrazolyl or 1-tetrazolyl;
R1 is chloro, C1-C3 alkyl or -CH2R9;
R9 is C1-C4 alkanoyloxy, benzoyloxy, fluoro, chloro, carbamoyloxy, C1-C4 alkylcarbamoyloxy,


pyridinio, pyridinio substituted with C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkanoyl, carbamoyl, C1-C4 alkylcarbamoyl, chloro, fluoro, hydroxy or trifluoromethyl, or the corresponding
pyridinio chlorides or bromides, or -S-R10;
R10 is -CH2CO2(C1-C4 alkyl), carbamoyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted with one or two chloro, fluoro, CI-C4 alkyl, hydroxy, C1-C4 alkylsulfonamido or trifluoromethyl groups; triazol-3-yl unsubstituted or substituted
with one or two groups independently selected from C1-C3 alkyl, -C02(C1-C4 alkyl), -CONH2 and -CH2NHOCO(benzyl or Cl-C4 alkyl);

tetrazol-1-yl or tetrazol-5-yl substituted with one or two groups independently selected
from C1-C4 alkyl and -CH2CO2(C1-C4 alkyl or hydrogen); 4-cyano-5-aminopyrimidin-2-yl, or 5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl;
provided that n is 0 when R4 is cyclohexadienyl.
[0006] In the above general formula, various generalized terms are used to describe the
various groups. The generalized terms have their usual meanings in organic chemistry.
For example, the term halomethyl includes bromomethyl, chloromethyl, fluoromethyl
and iodomethyl.
[0007] The group R
3 is a 2-amino-4-thiazolyl(alkoxyimino)methyl group. The alkoxyimino group of this
group may be in either the syn or anti form.
[0008] The terms C
1-C
3 alkyl, C
1-C
4 alkyl and C
1-C
4 alkoxy include groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, methoxy,
isopropoxy and i-butoxy.
[0009] The term protected amino refers to an amino group substituted with one of the commonly
employed amino-protecting groups such as t-butoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, 4-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl,
2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl and l-carbomethoxy-2-propenyl. Other accepted amino-protecting
groups such as are described by J. W. Barton in Protective Groups in Organic. Chemistry,
J.F.W. McOmie, Editor, Plenum Press, New York, 1973, chapter 2 will be recognized.by
organic chemists as suitable for the purpose.
[0010] The term protected carboxy refers to an acid group protected with any group which
is conventionally used to block or protect the carboxylic acid functionality of a
cephalosporin while reactions involving other functional sites are carried out. Such
carboxylic acid protecting groups are noted for their ease of cleavage and for their
ability to protect the acid from unwanted reactions. Such groups are thoroughly described
by E. Haslam in Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry, Chapter 5. Any such group
may be used, of course. The .preferred groups, however, are C
1-C
4 alkyl, C
4-
C6 t-alkyl, C
5-C
8 t-alkenyl, benzyl, methoxybenzyl, diphenylmethyl,. phthalimidomethyl, succinimidomethyl
or trichloroethyl.
[0011] Similarly, the term protected hydroxy refers to groups formed with a hydroxy group
such as formyloxy, 2-chloroacetoxy, benzyloxy, diphenylmethoxy, triphenyl- methoxy,
phenoxycarbonyloxy; t-butoxy and methoxy- methoxy. Other accepted hydroxy-protecting
groups, such as those described by C. B. Reese in chapter 3 of Protective Groups in
Organic Chemistry will be understood to be included in the term protected hydroxy.
[0012] Since the process of this invention is carried out in an acid medium, any acid-labile
groups which may be on the starting compound will be attacked. Such groups include,
for example, the widely used trimethylsilyl protecting group. Acid-labile groups should
be avoided in the practice of this invention, unless it is desired to remove them
from the starting compound.
[0013] The term C
1-C
4 alkanoyloxy includes groups such as formyloxy, acetoxy, propionyloxy and butyryloxy.
The term C
l-C
4 alkylcarbamoyloxy includes N-methyl- carbamoyloxy, N-propylcarbamoyloxy, N-i-butylcarbamoyl-
oxy and the like groups.
[0014] The pyridinio and substituted pyridinio groups, and the pyridinio chlorides and bromides,
are groups comprising a pyridine ring joined through its nitrogen, and having three
double bonds, so that the nitrogen atom is in the-quarternary form.
[0015] The term C
l-C
4 alkylsulfonamido refers to groups such as methylsulfonamido, ethylsulfonamido, isopropylsulfonamido
and t-butylsulfonamido.
[0016] Formation of esters of cephalosporin acids is a routine expedient in the art, for
instance, as taught by U.S. Patent 3,632,850. The pNB esters are usually formed at
a relatively early stage in the synthesis of the cephalosporin, and the compound is
carried through synthetic steps in the pNB ester form. The ester may be formed, for
example, by simple contact of a cephalosporin acid with p-nitrobenzyl bromide in any
convenient solvent at ambient temperature. It may also be advantageous to form the
pNB ester of a penicillin, especially a penicillin 1-oxide, and transform the penicillin
into a cephalosporin by one of the well-known ring expansion techniques. The cephalosporin
ester so made may then be subjected to additional steps to form the desired compound,
and finally deesterified by the process of this invention to obtain the anti- biotically
active cephalosporin acid.
[0017] A particularly preferred group of compounds includes those wherein R
1 is chloro, and those wherein
Rl is -CH
2SR
10.
[0018] The most preferred products of the present process are 7-(D-2-amino-2-phenylacetamido)-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid, 7-(D-2-amino-2-phenyl- acetamido)-3-chloro-3-cephem4-carboxylic- acid, 7-(tetrazol--1-ylacetamido)-3-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid, and 7-(2-phenyl-2-hydroxyacetamido)-3-(1-methyltetrazol-5- ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid.
[0019] The electrolytic cells used for the process of this invention are the conventional
types now known in the electrochemical art. This invention does not provide and does
not need any new cells or other equipment. Some discussion of electrolytic cells will,
however, be given.
[0020] An electrolytic cell of the type used for electrolytic reductions has a working electrode,
sometimes called the cathode, at which the reduction takes place. The working electrode
is maintained at a potential which is negative with respect to the auxiliary electrode,
or anode, at which only electrolyte reactions should take place. A reference electrode
is usually also used. The reference electrode, at which no reactions should take place,
supplies a reference point from which the potential of the working electrode is measured.
A typical and frequently-used reference electrode is the saturated calomel electrode;
others are the mercury/mercuric chloride electrode and the silver/silver chloride
electrode. The reference electrode is electrically connected to the working fluid
through a conductive bridge or a porous junction.
[0021] Cells are very often divided into compartments, so.that each of the electrodes is
immersed in fluid which is physically separated from the fluids of the other compartments,
but is electrically connected to them. Such division of the cell is optional in the
context of the present invention, unless the compound to be reduced bears a group
which-can be electrically oxidized, such as the compounds in which R is 4-hydroxyphenylacetyl.
In general, groups having oxygen substitution on an aromatic ring are likely to be
readily oxidized. The oxidizability of the starting compound may be readily determined
by running a voltammogram on the auxiliary electrode in a positive direction with
respect to the reference electrode.
[0022] Figure 1 in the accompanying drawing is included to illustrate a typical voltammogram
which results when a system adapted to the practice of this invention is subjected
to an increasing negative potential. The bottom axis, labeled E, measures the potential
applied to the working electrode of the cell, compared to the reference electrode,
and the potential is increasingly negative as one progresses to the right along the
E axis.
[0023] The vertical axis, labeled i, indicates current flow through the cell, from the secondary
electrode to the working electrode, and increases as one proceeds up the i axis.
[0024] A typical voltammogram curve is shown in Figure 1. The curve is drawn in the usual
manner, by slowly subjecting the system to increasingly negative potential, measuring
the current at each potential, and plotting current against potential. The voltammogram
shown represents a compound which has two groups subject to electrolytic reduction.
[0025] The first reduction occurs at the point of the E-i curve between A and B. Point A
marks the initial onset of current flow of the first reduction, and point B marks
the initial onset of current flow of the second reduction.
[0026] Point C indicates the onset of background discharge, which is the point where the
solvent- electrolyte system begins to break down in an uncontrolled electrolysis,
discharging hydrogen.
[0027] The presence of inflection points, such as are shown in the figure, indicates that
one or more oxidizable groups are present and that a divided cell is necessary, so
that the auxiliary electrode is physically separated from the working fluid which
contains the compound.
[0028] The arrangement of electrolytic cells, the construction of electrodes, and the materials
which may be effectively used as dividers are all part of the common knowledge of
the electrochemical art, and may easily be learned by reference to text books and
journal articles. Particularly useful text books which may be mentioned include Organic
Electrochemistry, M. M. Baizer, Editor, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York (1973), and
Technique of Electroorganic Synthesis, N. L. Weinberg, Editor, John Wiley and Sons,
New York (1974).
[0029] Working electrodes for use in the process of this invention are made of carbon, mercury,
tin, aluminum, silver, copper, lead, chromium, zinc, nickel or cadmium. The preferred
working electrodes are mercury, silver and lead. The electrodes should be rather highly
purified, as is normally the case in electrochemistry. The form of the electrode is
not important; it may be solid sheet,. gauze or cloth, a basket of shot, or a fluidized
bed of particles, with equally good results. The electrode may also be made of an
inert substrate plated with the electrode metal, or it may be made in the form of
a sheet of the electrode composition, wrapped with gauze of the same composition to
increase the electrode area.
[0030] The auxiliary electrode does not participate in the reductive process, and so it
may be made of any suitable substance which is not attacked by the oxidative side
of the electrolytic process. Auxiliary electrodes are most often made of the noble
metals, especially platinum, or of carbon. Platinum oxide, or platinum coated with
platinum oxide, is the preferred anode composition. Lead oxide, silver oxide and such
metallic oxides are. also usable auxiliary electrode compositions.
[0031] It is most effective to arrange the cell so that the distance between the auxiliary
electrode and the working electrode is everywhere the same, and is as small as possible.
The relationship is desirable in all electrolytic processes, to maximize current flow
and minimize temperature rise caused by the resistance of the fluid to the flow of
current.
[0032] The process of this invention is carried out in an acidic working fluid, which is
made acid by the addition of an acid having a pK
a of 0 or less, determined in water, preferably sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid.
Other strong acids such as phosphoric acid, nitric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and
the like may also be used.
[0033] The acid is necessary to give up protons to the reaction at the working electrode,
and also to keep the working fluid acid, because the products are unstable in basic
conditions. Since the reduction is a 4-electron process, the working fluid must contain
at least four moles of acid per mole of compound to be reduced. Greater amounts of
acid, even up to ten or twenty moles per mole of compound, may be used if desired.
[0034] If an undivided cell is used, the fluid in contact with both the working electrode
and the auxiliary electrode will be the same. If the cell is divided, however, the
working fluid will undoubtedly be different from the.fluid in the auxiliary electrode
compartment.
[0035] The working fluid used in this invention is a mixture containing up to about 50%
water, preferably from about 10% to about 50% water. The organic portions of the working
fluid may be either water-miscible or water-immiscible. It is preferred to use a water-miscible
solvent, so that the working fluid is a homogeneous-solution.
[0036] Suitable water-miscible organic solvents include the amides, especially dimethylformamide
and dimethylacetamide, acetone, the water-miscible alkanols, such as methanol, ethanol
and propanol, and tetrahydrofuran.
[0037] If a water-immiscible solvent is used in the working fluid, the choice of solvents
is extremely broad, because any solvent may be used which is not reduced at the working
electrode. Especially desirable solvents include the halogenated solvents, such as
dichloromethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, chloroform, chlorobenzene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane
and the like. Other immiscible solvents which may advantageously be used include the
ketones including methyl ethyl ketone, methyl butyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone,
to mention only those which are economically available in commerce, the aromatic solvents
such as benzene, toluene and the xylenes, the alkanes such as pentane, hexane and
the octanes, the alcohols such as phenol, the butyl alcohols and the like, and ethers
such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether and hexahydropyran.
[0038] When a water-immiscible solvent is used, the working fluid necessarily consists of
two distinct phases. The acid remains in the aqueous phase, of course, and it is necessary
to provide an electrolyte for the solvent phase of the working fluid. Such electrolytes
are commonly used in the electrochemical art, and are preferably chosen from the class
of tertiary amine salts. Useful electrolytes for this purpose include, for-example,
tetraethylammonium perchlorate, tetrabutylammonium perchlorate, benzotri- butylammonium
chloride, benzyltriethylammonium bromide, benzyltriethylammonium chloride, methyltributylammonium
iodide, tribenzylethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, and the like electrolytes.
[0039] The- same organic electrolytes are used when the working fluid is non-aqueous, if
the acid is immiscible with the solvent.
[0040] If the process of this invention is to be carried out in a divided cell, the divider
may be made of any of the materials commonly used in electrochemistry for the purpose.
Especially useful dividers are made from the ion exchange membranes, especially those
which can pass cations. Dividers may also advantageously be made of finely porous
substances such as ceramic membranes and sintered glass membranes. Such porous dividers
may be made permeable to ions, but not to the fluids themselves, by sealing the membranes
with a conductive gel, of which a typical example is agar gel saturated with an ionic
substance such as, for example, potassium sulfate.
[0041] When the auxiliary electrode occupies a cell compartment by itself, it is immersed
in a conductive fluid. If the divider is a porous membrane, it is advisable to provide
an auxiliary electrode fluid which is compatible with the working fluid, such as an
aqueous solution of the mineral acid used in the working fluid. If the cell divider
is porous only to ions, then the auxiliary electrode fluid may be any convenient conductive
fluid, such as dilute aqueous solutions of ionizable salts and acids.
[0042] The temperature of the process is from about 0°C. to about 75°C., preferably from
about 0°C. to about 30°C.
[0043] The-potential, of the working electrode, or the potential between the working electrode
and the auxiliary electrode, may be controlled in various ways. The most effective
and precise way to control the potential is to use a reference electrode, with its
junction to the working fluid placed as physically close as possible to the working
electrode. The desired potential for the process is determined from examination of
a voltammogram of the system, and the potential between the working electrode and
the auxiliary electrode is adjusted to give the desired constant potential between
the reference electrode and the working electrode. This method of control is much
more effective than control by the overall voltage between the working electrode and
the auxiliary electrode, because that voltage depends on the condition of .the dividing
membrane, if any, the concentration of the acid in the working fluid, and the concentration
of the compound to be reduced in the working fluid.
[0044] Similarly it is relatively inefficient to control the system by means of the current
flow between the auxiliary electrode and the working electrode, because the current
flow is directly dependent on the concentration of the compound to be reduced, as
well as upon the physical condition of the electrodes and of the divider. However,
when an individual reduction has been thoroughly studied and the relationship between
current, time and concentration is known, controlled- current electrolysis can be
used for production of repeated batches.
[0045] Thus, the best way to control the system is by the potential between a reference
electrode and the working electrode, and the control most advantageously is provided
by an automatic instrument which constantly senses that potential and adjusts the
voltage between the-working electrode and auxiliary electrode accordingly. Such instruments
are now readily available; one maker of them is Princeton Applied Research, Inc.,
Princeton, N.J., U.S.A.
[0046] As has been briefly discussed above, the potential for operating the process of this
invention with any given combination of electrodes, working fluid and compound is
determined according to the routine method of the electrochemical art, by running
a voltammogram of the system. It has been found, in performing voltammograms of many
compounds of the formula described above, that the first current plateau corresponds
to the reduction of the nitro group of the p-nitrobenzyl group of these compounds.
Accordingly, it is selectively possible to reduce that nitro group without affecting
other portions of the compound. Once the nitro group has been reduced, the benzyl
ester group spontaneously hydrolyzes from the compound, producing the antibiotic cephalosporin
acid.
[0047] It is not possible, of course, to name a precise potential range for the operation
of the process of this invention, since the potential for every system will necessarily
be different. It has been observed, however, that the potential of the working electrode
for reductions according to this process is from about -0.3 volt to about -1 volt,
relative to a saturated calomel reference electrode, in the majority of systems which
have been used.
[0048] The reduction of this invention appears to be a 4-electron process, and so the reduction
of a gram- mole of compound .requires 385,948 coulombs. The length of time necessary
to pass this amount of current necessarily depends upon the overall resistance of
the cell and the effective area of the electrodes.
[0049] Electrolytic cells usually require good agitation, and the process of this invention
is typical in this respect. It has been found advisable to provide enough agitation
of the working fluid to keep the surface of the electrode thoroughly swept, so that
a fresh supply of compound to be reduced is constantly supplied to the working electrode.
Further, when a water-immiscible solvent is used in the working fluid, it is necessary
to agitate the fluid sufficently well to keep the two phases of the working fluid
intimately mixed in the form of fine droplets.
[0050] The electrochemical art has long known that electrolytic processes are carried out
more advantageously in flow cells than in batch electrolytic cells, in general. A
flow cell is an electrolytic cell arranged for the constant passage of the working
fluid through the cell. The cell volume may be quite small, and the current density
rather high, to achieve the desired extent of reaction in a single pass through the
cell, or the flow rate may be lower and the volume higher, with the expectation that
a number of passes through the cell will be necessary. In either event, the flow cell
is operated continuously with no interruptions for filling and emptying the cell,
and the associated operations of product isolation and temperature control are carried
on outside the cell. Flow cells are set up just as are batch cells, except for the
necessary provisions for entry and exit of the working fluid. A flow cell may be divided,
if necessary, in the usual manner. It is often possible to design a flow cell with
the electrodes spaced advantageously close to each other, because the agitation of
the working fluid is provided by its own flow velocity and it is unnecessary to provide
for mechanical agitation of the cell. For example, a flow cell is often built in the
form of a plate-and-frame filter press, with the electrodes in sheet form, clamped
between the frames.
[0051] The concentration of the compound to be reduced in the working fluid is widely variable
and is limited only by the solubility of the compound. Of course, it is most economical
to use relatively high concentrations, in order to obtain the maximum effect from
the solvents used in the process. However, work- up of the fluid and isolation of
the product from it is frequently more difficult when highly concentrated working
fluids are used. Accordingly, it has not been advantageous in practice to use concentrations
of compound in the working fluid higher than about 20% weight/volume.
[0052] The cephalosporin acid is recovered from the working fluid by a conventional isolation
procedure. Typically, the working fluid is diluted with a large amount of dilute mineral
acid, such as 1-normal hydrochloric acid, and the dilute solution is extracted with
ethyl acetate. In some cases, it is advantageous to back-extract the organic layer
with additional dilute. acid, to remove as much as possible of the organic portions
of the working fluid. The organic layer is then evaporated under vacuum to obtain
the product, which may be further purified, as by recrystallization, if desired.
[0053] In isolating the product, it is separated from an impurity which is believed to be
composed of polymers of the aminobenzyl moiety removed in the reduction. This polymeric
impurity is formed in deesterifications according to the prior art methods, as well.
The use of dimethylformamide as the solvent in the working fluid makes the isolation
problem much easier, and back-extraction of the first organic layer obtained in the
isolation steps, with dilute aqueous acid, is very useful in removing the polymeric
impurity.
[0054] The following examples are included to assist the reader in understanding the process
of this invention, and to assure that. a skilled electrochemist can carry out any
desired process of this invention. The products of the examples were identified by
instrumental analytical techniques, as will be explained in the individual examples.
Some products were made repeatedly by different embodiments of the process of the
invention, and in such cases, the products were often merely identified by thinmlayer
chromatography (TLC) or by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis as identical
to the original product, and were not otherwise isolated or identified..
[0055] Much of the data in the following examples has been tabulated, to condense the information,
and the compounds made by the processes to be described . will be identified by the
following code. It will be, understood, of course, that in all cases the starting
compound was the corresponding p-nitrobenzyl ester.
1. 7-phenoxyacetamido-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid
2. 7-(2-phenyl-2-aminoacetamido)-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid
3. 7-phenoxyacetamido-3-(1-methyltetrazol-5-ylthio- methyl)-3-cephem-4-carbyxylic
acid
4. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(l-methyltetrazol-5- ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
5. 7-(2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-2-phenylacetamido)-7-methoxy-3-(1-methyltetrazol-5-ylthiome-thyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
6. 7-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetamido)-3-(1-methyltetrazol-5-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
7. 7-phenoxyacetamido-3-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
8. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thia- diazol-2-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
9. 7-(tetrazol-1-ylacetamido)-3-(5-methyl-1,3,4-- thiadiazol-2-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
10. 7-[2-(2-triphenylmethylaminothiazol-4-yl)-2-methoxyiminoacetamido]-3-exomethylenecepham-4-carboxylic
acid
11. 7-phenylacetamido-3-chloro-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid
12. 7-12-(2-triphenylmethylaminothiazol-4-yl)-2-methoxyiminoacetamido]-3-chloro-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
13. 7-phenoxyacetamido-3-acetoxymethyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid
14. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-benzoyloxymethyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid
15. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(2-methyltetrazol-5-ylaminomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxyliq
acid
16. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(4-carbamoylpyridinio- methyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid, bromide
17. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(4-chlorophenylthio- methyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid
18. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(benzo[4,5-a]-1,2,3-triazol-1-yloxymethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
19. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-methoxycarbonylmethyl- thiomethyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
20. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-t-butoxycarbonylmethyl- thiomethyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
21. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-7-methoxy-3-carbamoyithio- methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
22. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-fluoromethyl-3-fluoromethyl 4-carboxylic acid
23. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(l-carboxymethyltetrazol-5-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
2.4. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(5-amino-4-cyanopyrimidin-2-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
25. 7-[2-(2-triphenylmethylaminothiazol-4-yl)-2-methoxyiminoacetamido]-3-(5-hydroxy-4-methyl-5-oxo-1,2,4-triazin-3-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid, 1-oxide
26. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(lH-pyrazolo[3,4-d]-pyrimidin-4-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
27. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(lH-pyrazolo[4,3-d]-pyrimidin-7-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
28. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(4-benzylcarbonyloxy- aminomethyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
29. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(5-carbamoyl-4-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
30. 7-(2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-2-phenylacetamido)-3-(5-carbamoyl-4-methyl-l,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio-
methyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid
31. 7-[2-(2-triphenylmethylaminothiazol-4-yl)-2-methoxyiminoacetamido]-3-(5-carbamoyl-4-methyl-
l,2,4-triazol-3-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid
32. 7-[2-(2-triphenylmethylaminothiazol-4-yl)-2-methoxyiminoacetamido]-3-(4-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
33. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(5-aminomethyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
34. 7-(2-thienylacetamido)-3-(5-ethoxycarbonyl-4-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic
acid
[0056] The examples which follow are arranged in groups, according to the variations in
the operating conditions under which they were run. Most of the operating data are
tabulated.
[0057] The first group of examples were run in small batch electrolytic cells, having volumes
from about 10 to 100 ml.
Examples 1-29
[0058] In these examples, the working fluid was comprised of 90% by volume of dimethylformamide,
and 10% by volume of 12N sulfuric acid. The working electrode was a toroidal mercury
pool having an area, in various experiments, of from 14 to 20 cm.
2. The auxiliary electrode was a loop of platinum wire, parallel to the surface of
the working electrode, and separated from the working electrode by a fine glass frit.
The reference electrode, in all experiments, was a saturated calomel electrode, with
its junction placed physically as close as possible to the surface of the working
electrode. In some experiments, the cell was an H-type cell with the three electrodes
in separate tubes, separated by fine glass frits. An automatic potentiostat was used
to control the potential between the- working electrode and the reference electrode,
and in most cases no measurement of overall voltage of the cell was made. The current
flows recorded in the table below indicate the approximate maximum current flow at
the beginning of the experiment; the current flow, of course, declined steadily as
the starting compound was used up.
[0059] Many experiments were run at controlled temperatures; room temperature experiments
are indicated by R.T.
[0060] Operating conditions which were not recorded by the operator are indicated by N.R.
[0061] In the tables below, the total time of the experiment is indicated, to the nearest
10 minutes, and the total amount of current passed is expressed in terms of a percentage
of the theoretical amount of current necessary to accomplish a 4-electron reaction.
[0062] The products were isolated by diluting the working fluid with a large amount of dilute
aqueous acid, usually hydrochloric acid, and extracting the diluted solution several
times with portions of ethyl acetate. The organic layers were then back-extracted
several times with additional portions of dilute aqueous acid, and evaporated to dryness
under vacuum to obtain the product. In general, the products were not further purified.
Physical-chemical characterizing data for the products is tabulated after the tables
showing the operating conditions of the experiments.
[0063] The working fluid in all of the experiments was kept free of air by bubbling argon
slowly through it.

[0064] The following NMR features were observed in analysis of the compounds prepared in
the examples above.
Compound 1, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; 6 2.12 (s); 3.53 (broad s); 5.15 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.71 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz);
8.98 (d, J = 8 Hz); 4.68 (s); 6.8-7.6 (m)
Compound 3, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.73 (broad s); 3.95 (s); 4.31 (broad s); 4.63 (s); 5.10 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.75
(dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.70-7.5 (m); 9.13 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 4, 100 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.70 (ABq), 3.77 (s); 3.93 (s) 4.31 (ABq); 5.08 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.67 (dd, J =
8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.85-7.42 (m); 9.12 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 5, 100 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 1.91 (s); 3.38 (s); 3.46 (ABq); 3.90 (s); 4.25 (ABq); 5.06 (s); 5.34 (d, J = 8Hz);
7.2-7.6 (m); 9.47 (broad s)
Compound 6, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.68 (broad s); 3.93 (s); 4.30 (broad s); 5.06 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.11 (broad s);
5.71 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4..5 Hz); 7.18-7.65 (m); 8.68 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 9, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 2.17 (s); 3.69 (ABq); 4.38 (ABq); 5.12 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.37 (s); 5.72 (dd, J
= 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 9.36 (s); 9.50 (d, J = 4.5 Hz)
Compound 10, 100 mHz instrument in CDC13; δ 3.45 (ABq); 4.23 (s); 5.10 (s); 5.23 (broad s); 5.38 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.62 (dd,
J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.6 (s); 7.1 (s); 7.35 (s); 8.03 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 11, 60 mHz instrument in CDC13 plus acetone d6; δ 3.68; 3.75; 5.00; 5.80; 7.33; 7.85
Compound 12, 60 mHz instrument in CDC13; δ 3.57 (ABq); 4.09 (s); 5.10 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.78 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.76
(s); 7.35 (m); 7.65 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 13, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; 6 2.03 (s); 3.60 (broad s); 4.63 (s); 4.90 (ABq); 5.10 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.76 (dd, J = 8 Hz); 6.7-7.5 (m); 9.08 (d)
Compound 14, 100 mHz instrument in acetone d6; δ 3.77 (ABq); 3.90 (s); 5.19 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.26 (ABq); 5.85 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.85-8.15
(m); 8.05 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 18, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.69 (broad s); 3.93 (broad s); 5.14 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.39 (broad s); 5.72 (dd,
J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.85-7.42 (m); 7.50-8.12 (m); 9.18 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 20, 100 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 1.41 (s); 3.22 (ABq); 3.51 (ABq); 3.67 (broad s); 3.76 (s); 5.09 (d, J = 4.5 Hz)
; 5.63 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4..5 Hz); 6.95 (m); 7.35 (m); 9.09 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 21, no analysis
Compound 22, 60 mHz instrument in acetone d6; δ 3.71 (broad s); 3.98 (s); 5.36 (d, J = 48 Hz); 5.25 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.78 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.9-7.5 (m); 8.16 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 23, 100 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.66 (ABq); 3.75 (s); 4.33 (ABq); 5.05 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.3 (s); 6.95 (m); 7.35 (m); 9.12
(d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 26, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.53 (ABq); 3.78 (s); 4.53 (ABq); 5.13 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.71 (dd, J = 8 Hz and
4.5 Hz); 6.85-7.40 (m); 8.15 (s); 8.90 (s); 9.16 (d, J = 8 Hz);
Compound 28, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.73 (broad s); 3.85 (s); 4.28 (ABq); 4.40 (d, J = 6 Hz); 5.13 (d, J = 4.5 Hz);
5.15 (s); 5.76 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 7.41 (s); 7.78 (t, J = 6 Hz); 9.20 (J =
8 Hz);
Compound 29, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.68 (broad s); 3.78 (s); 3.77 (s); 4.19 (ABq); 5.07 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.66 (dd,
J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.85-7.40 (m); 7.83 (broad s); 8.17 (broad s); 9.14 (d = 8 Hz)
Compound 30, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; 6 1.36 (s); 3.59 (broad s); 3.77 (s); 4.14 (broad s); 4.98 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.31
(d, J = 9 Hz).; 5.67 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 7.15-7.50 (m); 7.82 (broad s) 8.16
(broad s); 9.17 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 31, 360 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; 6 3.64 (ABq); 3.77 (s); 3.81 (s); 4.18 (ABq); 5.09 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.68 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5
Hz); 6.71 (s); 7.2-7.4 (m); 7.86 (broad s); 8.21 (broad s); 8.84 (s); 9.58 (d, J =
8 Hz)
Compound 33, no analysis Compound 34, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 1.33 (t, J = 7 Hz); 3.68 (broad s); 3.78 (q, J = 7 Hz); 4.23 (broad s); 4.39 (q,
J = 7 Hz); 5.07 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.66 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.85-7.40 (m); 9.14
(d, J = 8 Hz)
Examples 30-40
[0065] The following examples report experiments run according to the method described above,
except that, in these examples, the auxiliary electrode was separated from the working
electrode by a frit coated with an electrically conductive gel. In some experiments,
the gel was formed from agar made with an ionizable salt solution, and in other experiments,
the frit was coated with methyl cellulose gel made conductive in the same manner.
Compound 7, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 2.67 (s); 3.68 (ABq); 4.37 (ABq); 4.61 (s); 5.12 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.71 (dd, J
= 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.8-7.4 (m); 9.09 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 15, 100 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; 6 3.51 (broad s); 3.76 (s); 4.09 (s); 4.22 (ABq); 5.04 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.62 (dd,
J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.85-7.4 (m); 9.07 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 16 identified only by TLC
Compound 17, 60 mHz instrument in acetone d6; δ 3.71 (ABq); 3.93 (s); 4.23 (ABq); 5.13 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.80 (dd, J = 8 Hz and
4.5 Hz); 6.83-7.73 (m); 8.08 (d, J.= 8 Hz)
Compound 19, 100-mHz instrument in DMSOd6; 6 3.34 (s); 3.61 (s); 3.67 (s); 3.76; 5.12 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.66 (dd, J = 8 Hz and
4.5 Hz); 6.85-7.40 (m); 9.09 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 24, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.68 (broad s); 3.78 (s); 4.20 (ABq); 5.13 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.66 (dd, J = 8 Hz
and 4.5 Hz); 6.95 (m); 7.35 (m); 7.93 (broad s); 8.40 (s)
Compound 27, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 3.5 (broad s); 5.63 (dd, J = 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.98 (m); 7.37 (m); 8.45 (s); 8.78
(s); 9.08 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Compound 8, 60 mHz instrument in DMSOd6; δ 2.63 (s); 3.70 (ABq); 3.80 (s); 4.41 (ABq); 5.14 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.73 (dd, J
= 8 Hz and 4.5 Hz); 6.90-7.50 (m); 9.16 (d, J = 8 Hz)
Examples 41-42
[0066] The experiments reported in these examples were carried out in the same manner as
the experiments of examples 1-29, except that the working and auxiliary electrodes
were separated by an ion exchange membrane.
Compound 25, no analysis
Compound 32, 100 mHz instrument in CDC13; δ 3.65 (s); 3.70 (ABq); 4.0 (s); 4.25 (broad s); 5.12 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.82 (dd); 6.70 (s); 7.15-7.50 (m); 8.33 (s);
Example 43
[0067] The experiment of this example was also carried out according to the methods described
in. the text of examples 1-29, except that the working and auxiliary electrodes in
this experiment were not separated.

Example 44
[0068] The experiment of this example was also carried out according to the process as described
in the text of examples 1-29, except that the working electrode was lead, rather than
mercury.

Example 45
[0069] The method described in the text of Examples 1-29 was used for this experiment also,
except that the working fluid was made up of 90% dimethylformamide and 10% of 24N
sulfuric acid.

Examples 46-50
[0070] In the following examples, the working fluids were mixtures of dimethylformamide
and hydrochloric acid. Various amounts and concentrations of'hydrochloric acid were
used in the various experiments, as detailed in the table below. In other respects,
the cells and methods were as described in the text introducing Examples 1-29, except
that in some experiments, the working and auxiliary electrodes were separated by a
frit coated with a gel, as described in the introduction to Examples 30-40. The table
below indicates the experiments in which a gel-coated frit was used.

Compound 2, 60 mHz instrument in TFAd
1 (trifluoroacetic acid); δ 2.31 (s); 5.18 (d, J = 4.5 Hz); 5.53 (s); 5.76 (d, J =
4.5 Hz); 7.60 (s)
Example 51
[0071] The working fluid used in this example was composed of 40 ml. of dimethylformamide
and 10 ml. of pH 5.0 sodium acetate buffer, with sufficient p-toluenesulfonic acid
added to the mixture to make it 1.8N. The working electrode was a pool of mercury,
and the counter electrode was a platinum wire, immersed in the working fluid with
no electrode separation. The reference electrode was saturated calomel.

Example 52
[0072] The working fluid in the experiment of this example was dimethylformamide, which
was 0.1-molar in tetraethylammonium perchlorate and contained about 35 mg./ml. of
p-toluenesulfonic acid. The mercury pool working electrode was separated from the
platinum auxiliary electrode by a glass frit.

Example 53
[0073] The working fluid in this experiment was a mixture of 45% of tetrahydrofuran and
55% of an 0.lM solution of pH 4.6 buffer. The measured pH of the working fluid, with
the compound dissolved in it, was 5.5, and the pH of the working fluid was held at
5.5 throughout the experiment by the use of a pH controller which added 2N sulfuric
acid as necessary.
[0074] The working electrode was mercury, and the auxiliary electrode was a platinum wire,
separated from the working electrode by a fine glass frit coated with potassium sulfate-saturated
agar. The reference electrode was saturated calomel, with the porous junction placed
as close as possible to the working electrode.
