Abstract: A process for the preparation of an antibacterially active compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## and salts and esters thereof wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently are hydrogen or an organic group, and R.sup.3 is an organic group bonded via a carbon atom to the sulphur atom, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.4 is an organic group different to R.sup.3 and R.sup.a is hydrogen or a carboxy-blocking group, with a thiol R.sup.3 SH or reactive derivative thereof. In addition certain compounds within the formula (II) are novel and useful antibacterial agents in their own right.

Abstract: The compounds of the formula: ##STR1## and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and in-vivo hydrolysable esters thereof wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a group selected from OH, OSO.sub.3 H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or C.sub.1-4 alkyl ester thereof, OR.sup.2, SR.sup.3, OCOR.sup.2, OCO.sub.2 R.sup.3 or OCONHR.sup.3, where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or an optionally substituted benzyl group and R.sup.3 is a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or an optionally substituted benzyl or an optionally substituted phenyl group; and R.sup.22 is a hydrogen atom, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl, C.sub.3-6 alkynyl wherein the triple bond is not present on the carbon adjacent to the sulphur atom, aralkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkanoyl, aralkanoyl, aryloxyalkanoyl or arylcarbonyl, any of such R.sup.22 groups being optionally substituted; with the proviso that when R.sup.22 is 2-aminoethyl R.sup.1 must be SR.sup.3 or OSO.sub.3 H or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of C.sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for inversion of the absolute stereochemistry at the .alpha.-carbon atom of a C-6 substituent of a bicyclic carbapenem antibiotic via a phosphorus - azodicarboxylate mediated reaction. Novel azides, amines and formates are described as useful intermediates and as antibacterial agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides the compounds of the formula (II): ##STR1## and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof wherein R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, a group HO.sub.3 S-- or a group R.sup.5 CO wherein R.sup.5 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl, aryl, aryl(C.sub.1-6)alkyl or aryloxy(C.sub.1-6)alkyl; and R.sup.4 is an organic group other than methyl bonded to the --CO--NH-- moiety via a carbon atom; with the proviso that when R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or a group R.sup.5 CO the stereochemical configuration at the .alpha.-carbon atom of the C-6 substituent is S, and with the further proviso that when R.sup.3 is a group HO.sub.3 S-- the hydrogen atoms at C-5 and C-6 are cis. Their use is described as are processes for their preparation. Compounds wherein the R.sup.4 CO-- moiety is replaced by a hydrogen atom are also prepared.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a compound of the formula (O): ##STR1## wherein R.degree. is SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 which process comprises the reaction of a cleavable ester of a compound of the formula (O) wherein R.degree. is H with an optionally protected compound XCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 wherein X is a displaceable group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein CO.sub.2 R.sub.1 is a free, salted or esterified carboxyl group, n is 0 or 1, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or an acyl group or a group of the sub-formula (a):R.sub.3 O.sub.3 S (a)wherein R.sub.3 is a salting ion or a methyl or ethyl group, with the proviso that when R.sub.2 is a group of the formula (a), the compound has cis stereochemistry about the .alpha.-lactam ring; which have been found to possess antibacterial and .alpha.-lactamase inhibitory activity.

Abstract: This invention provides the anti-bacterial compounds (III) and (IV): ##STR1## and salts and esters thereof wherein X is a --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- or trans --CH.dbd.CH-- group and R is a group R.sup.1 or NH.R.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group of up to 6 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of up to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an alkyl group of up to 6 carbon atoms substituted by an aryl or aryloxy group.The invention also provides processes for their preparation comprising a the acylation or carbamoylation of the corresponding 6-(1-hydroxyethyl) compounds.The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibiotic compounds of the formula: ##STR1## and salts and cleavable esters thereof wherein X is a SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 or YNH-COCH.sub.3 group where Y is a SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, trans --SO--CH.dbd.-- or cis or trans --S--CH.dbd.CH-- group and R is a lower alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, lower alkenyl, or substituted lower alkyl.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## and salts thereof are useful both for their antibacterial activity and as synergists in combination with penicillins and cephalosporins.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## and salts and esters thereof wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl, alkenyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, acyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a carboxylic acid group or ester thereof of 1 to 7 carbon atoms, or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms substituted by 1 or 2 halogen atoms, hydroxyl, substituted hydroxyl, amino, protected amino, substituted thio of 1 to 7 carbon atoms, substituted sulphinyl of 1 to 7 carbon atoms, substituted sulphonyl of 1 to 7 carbon atoms, or by a carboxylic acid group or ester thereof of 1 to 7 carbon atoms;R.sub.2 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or is joined to R.sub.1 to form a cycloalkyl group of 3 to 6 carbon atoms;R.sub.3 is hydrogen, chlorine or bromine; andR.sub.4 is hydrogen, halogen, azido or amino; provided that when R.sub.4 is azido, R.sub.3 is hydrogen and R.sub.1 is methyl,R.sub.2 is not methyl, and that when R.sub.2 R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are hydrogen andR.sub.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein CO.sub.2 R is an ester group, are useful for their .beta.-lactamase inhibitory activity.