Abstract: This invention relates to a new class of thienamycins (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters which are useful as antibiotics: ##STR1## wherein the stylized radical (hereafter referred to as R'): ##STR2## attached to the amino nitrogen group of thienamycin represents a mono- or polycyclic N-containing heterocyclic group; R is, inter alia, hydrogen, substituted and unsubstituted: alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, heterocyclylalkenyl, aralkenyl, heterocyclylalkyl, aralkyl, --NR.sub.2, COOR, CONR.sub.2, --OR, or CN.