over 40 oxapenem analogues have been synthesised and tested in vitro . structure activity relationship ( sar ) studies have identified functions for various parts of the oxapenem molecule with respect to chemical stability , target binding affinity , antibacterial activity and spectrum and extent of β - lactamase inhibition . it has not been possible to predict bioavailability from structure studies . we have synthesised and tested several oxapenem compounds , known as pfob , yob , a , e , b , d , u and xob . their structures are shown in table 1 . it can be seen that pfob , yob , e , b , d and a are embodiments of the present invention . the syntheses are discussed below . the plasma blood levels in mice ( mean of 3 per time point ) of compositions xob , yob , pfob and yob were measured at time points of 5 , 10 , 20 and 30 minutes following subcutaneous ( sc ) administration at a dose of 50 mg per kg . the results are shown in table 2 and illustrated in fig1 . it can be clearly seen from the plasma blood levels at all time points that following sub - cutaneous administration , the compounds of the invention ( zwitterionic compounds pfob and yob ) have remarkably superior bioavailability when compared with salts xob and u . further , it should be noted that the only difference between pfob and u , and yob and xob , is the amine substituted chain ( instead of methyl group ) in compounds pfob and yob . the amine substituted chain allows the zwitterionic structure . thus , the compositions are extremely suitable for use in hospitals in i . p . and s . c administration regimes . the assays to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration ( mic ) were performed by agar dilution according to nccls guidelines ( 2000 ). in the following data the lowest mic shows the strongest activity . ceftazidime alone ( caz ), and a 2 : 1 ratio of ceftazidime with each of pfob , yob , u and xob ( caz + pfob , caz + yob , caz + u and caz + xob ) were each tested against a variety of class a β - lactamases . the results are shown in table 3 . it can be seen that against e . coli tem - 3 , tem - 6 , tem - 9 and tem - 10 all of the oxapenems , when used in combination with caz , show markedly superior activity compared to caz alone . yob , a composition according to the invention , shows remarkable activity when compared to xob ( a structurally and stereochemically close composition which is not a zwitterion ). this is particularly well demonstrated by the mic values against e . coli atcc 25922 and tem - 1 for yob ( 0 . 03 and 0 . 06 ) when compared to those for xob ( 0 . 25 and 0 . 25 ). it is noted that the mic values against tem - 9 and tem - 10 also show superiority . ceftazidime alone ( caz ), and a 1 : 1 ratio of ceftazidime with each of pfob , yob , u and xob ( caz + pfob , caz + yob , caz + u and caz + xob ) were each tested against a variety of class c β - lactamases . the results are shown in table 4 . 1 . it can be seen that against all organisms all of the oxapenems , when used in combination with caz , show superior activity compared to caz alone . pfob , a composition according to the invention , shows remarkable activity when compared to u ( a structurally and stereochemically close composition which is not a zwitterion ). this is demonstrated by the mic values against e . cloacae 84 - con , c freundii c2 - con and s marcescens s2 - con for pfob ( 4 , 0 . 03 and 0 . 03 , respectively ) when compared to those for u ( 8 , 2 and 0 . 25 ). it is also noted that the mic value for yob against s marcescens s2 - con is markedly superior to that of xob . ceftazidime alone ( caz ), and a 2 : 1 ratio of ceftazidime with each of pfob , yob , u and xob ( caz + pfob , caz + yob , caz + u and caz + xob ) were each tested against a variety of class c β - lactamases . the results are shown in table 4 . 2 . once again pfob , an embodiment of the invention , shows remarkable activity when compared to u ( a structurally and stereochemically close composition which is not a zwitterion ). this is demonstrated by comparison of the mic values against e . cloacae hennessy , e . cloacae 84 - con and c freundii c2 - con for pfob ( 4 , 4 and 2 , respectively ) with those for u ( 8 , 16 and 4 ). it is also noted that the mic value for yob against c . freundii c2 - con is superior to that of xob . it can be seen that the compositions embodying the invention have a remarkable combination of superior bioavailability combined with “ broad spectrum ” activity against both class a and c β - lactamases . there is no simple prediction of dependence or relationship between activity of the compound and the stereochemistry of the substituent at c - 6 : u and pfob have the ( 1 ′ r )- 1 - hydroxyethyl side chain while xob and yob have the ( 1 ′ s )- 1 - hydroxyethyl side chain . the superior activities of pfob and yob could not have been predicted . the half - lives of hydrolysis were determined at 37 ° c . in physiological phosphate buffer ph 7 . 4 by uv spectroscopy at 265 nm at a 10 − 4 m concentration of oxapenem the blood serum stability was determined microbiologically using an agar diffusion test with escherichia coli tem 1 ( penicillin resistant ). the oxapenems were incubated with sterile bovine serum ( oxoid ) at 37 ° c . in 0 . 033 % concentration . at 0 h , 1 . 5 h , 3 h , 4 . 5 h and 6 h intervals aliquot samples ( 30 ml ) were spotted on commercial filter disk ( oxoid ) containing piperacillin ( 75 mg ) and the remaining amounts of active β - lactamase inhibitor ( oxapenem ) were calculated from the observed decreasing inhibition diameters ( 27 - 12 mm ) in comparison with those obtained ( 24 - 0 mm ) obtained with piperacillin ( 75 mg ) disks spotting various amounts ( 10 mg , 5 mg , 2 . 5 mg , 1 . 25 mg , 0 mg ) of β - lactamase inhibitor . thus , the zwitterionic compound yob is far more stable than xob in blood serum , whereas , in contrast , the chemical stability of the two compounds are practically equal . this surprising increase of stability in blood serum of the zwitterionic oxapenem yob ( when compared to xob , a structurally and stereochemically close composition which is not a zwitterion ) is most significant and important . this stability gives high blood levels and long biological half - life and hence a superior ability for treating bacterial infections in human and veterinary therapy . the synthesis described below is shown schematically in fig2 of the attached drawings . to a 35 l pfaudler vessel ( glms ) was charged acetonitrile ( 16 . 7 kg ) and ( 3r , 4r )- 4 -( acetoxy )- 3 -[( 1r )- 1 -[[( 1 , 1 - dimethylethyl ) dimethylsilyl ] oxy ] ethyl ]- 2 - azetidinone ( 3 . 34 kg , 11 . 6 moles ). to the header flask was charged 21 % sodium methyl mercaptan ( 5 . 8 l , 17 . 4 moles , 1 . 5 equivalents ). this was added to the batch at 15 - 20 ° c . ( cooling required to control exotherm ) over two hours . the batch was then stirred for 1 hour after which time tlc analysis showed completion . the lower aqueous phase was discharged and the product ( acetonitrile ) phase washed with 6 . 7 l 20 % brine prior to being stripped to dryness on a rotary evaporator ( 20 l ). the crude product was then crystallised from hexane ( 13 . 3 l ) cooling to 0 ° c . from reflux . the crystalline product was filtered and washed with hexane ( 1 l ). vacuum drying afforded compound iii of fig2 ( 2 . 49 kg , 78 %) m . p . 93 ° c . as white needles . to a 20 l vessel ( glass ) was charged thf ( 8 . 25 l ) followed by compound ( iii ) ( 1 . 65 kg , 6 . 0 moles ). the batch was cooled to − 40 ° c . and 2 . 5 m butyl lithium ( 2 . 4 l ) charged at & lt ;− 25 ° c . ( typically − 45 to − 35 ° c . ), over 1 hour . this was allowed to come to − 25 ° c . to a second vessel was charged thf ( 4 . 1 l ) and para - nitrobenzyl iodoacetate ( 1 . 92 kg , 6 . 02 moles ,) which was then cooled to − 10 ° c . the solution of compound ( iii ) was then to transferred to the second solution whilst maintaining temperature & lt ; 0 ° c . ( typically & lt ;− 8 ° c . ), over 30 minutes using cannula under vacuum . after stirring to completion ( two hours at & lt ;− 5 ° c .) the batch was cooled to − 10 ° c . and added to a 50 l vessel containing 20 % brine ( 16 l ). the lower aqueous phase was back extracted with dichloromethane ( 13 l ). the two organic phases were then combined and stripped to dryness to afford crude compound ( iv ) of fig2 ( approx 3 kg ). thf was charged ( approx 2 l ) to enable storage of the product as an approx 40 % solution . a thf solution ( 3 . 54 l ) containing approximately 40 % compound iv , ( 1292 g , 2 . 76 moles ) is stripped to kf & lt ; 0 . 1 % then redissolved in fresh thf ( kf & lt ; 0 . 05 %), 7 . 5 l . to this was added 5 - azido - 2 , 2 - dimethylpentanoic acid chloride ( 1 . 23 kg , 6 . 5 moles , 2 . 35 equivalents ) at & lt ;− 50 ° c . a 20 % ( 1 . 04 m ) solution of lithium bis ( trimethylsilyl ) amide is added ( 6000 ml , 6 . 24 moles , 2 . 25 equivalents ) dropwise at & lt ;− 65 ° c . the mixture darkened considerably and was left to stir at − 70 ° c . for 1 hour . the reaction was quenched by charging onto toluene ( 12 . 5 l ) and 10 % hcl ( 12 . 5 l ). the organic phase was then washed successively with 25 % khco 3 ( 12 . 5 l ) water ( 12 . 5 l ) and saturated brine ( 6 l ). the organic phase was then concentrated and evaporated to afford a dark concentrated solution ( approx 30 % product ). to 25 kg of flash silica made up with approx 50 l toluene was charged material ( from three batches of the above reaction ) dissolved in 20 % hexane in toluene ( 20 l ). this was eluted under 0 . 5 bar pressure to load the material onto the column and recycled until fronts began to appear ( fraction 1 ). a small amount of fronts was separated in this fraction and discarded . the following fractions were then eluted ; the fractions containing product were then stripped to a volume of 25 l of a 13 . 5 % solution of compound v of fig2 ( 3 . 51 kg , 68 %) a tetrahydrofuran solution of compound v was stripped on a rotary evaporator until an oil ( 4 . 44 kg , containing 3 . 2 kg compound v , 5 . 15 mol , including some thf ). this oil was re - dissolved in thf ( 10 . 75 l ) to form a final solution ( kf 0 . 0326 %). this was charged to the 100 l vessel , followed by acetic acid ( 2 . 98 l ) and tetra - n - butyl - ammonium fluoride ( 5 . 36 kg , 17 . 13 mol ) and more thf ( 21 . 5 l ). this was accompanied by some foaming during charging . the batch was heated until at reflux ( 65 ° c .) and then held at close to reflux for 16 hours . sampling for tlc analysis showed only a trace amount of starting material . toluene ( 32 l ) was added and the vessel contents were cooled to 20 ° c ., prior to quench with 1m . potassium bicarbonate solution ( 27 l ) over 15 minutes with frothing again . the organic phase was washed with 1m potassium bicarbonate solution ( 2 × 27 l ), 10 % brine ( 4 × 11 l ) and 20 % brine solution ( 3 l ). this washing regime was to ensure the thorough removal of acetic acid . the toluene solution was stripped to a volume of approximately 5 l and stored in a freezer whilst a second batch was prepared giving a further 4 . 2 kg of crude product . the crude material was purified by dry flash column chromatography using nitrogen pressure ( 0 . 5 bar ). to a 30 cm diameter column was charged a slurry of flash silica ( chrogel silica 1254 , 25 kg ) in toluene ( 50 l ), giving a bed depth of 80 cm after settling . the toluene was eluted until the silica was partially dry . the crude product from above ( 8 . 5 kg ) was dissolved in toluene ( 20 l ) and charged to the silica and loaded onto the column using nitrogen pressure . the product was then eluted with the following solvent mixtures . concentration in vacuo on a 20 l rotary evaporator afforded compound vi of fig2 as a pale red - orange oil , ( single spot by tlc , 4 . 004 kg , 7 . 88 mol , 76 . 5 %). to a 2 l flask was charged dichloromethane ( 1 . 02 l ) and methyl disulphide ( 398 g , 4 . 23 mol ). a radical scavenger ( 3 - tert - butyl - 4 - hydroxy - 5 - methylphenylsulphide , 1 . 85 g , 0 . 005 mol ) was then charged and the batch cooled to − 35 ° c . chlorine gas ( 296 g , 8 . 35 mol ) was sparged into the solution over 2 hours , resulting in an orange solution of the methyl sulphenyl chloride . this solution was added to a 20 l flask containing dichloromethane ( 11 . 4 l ) and compound vi ( 4 . 97 kg of a 38 . 2 % solution in dichloromethane , 1 . 9 kg active , 3 . 74 mol ) at − 25 ° c . to − 15 ° c . over 25 minutes . the batch was then stirred at − 25 ° c . for 20 minutes . when the reaction was complete , as indicated by tlc ( absence of starting material ), the batch was quenched in a 50 l flask containing a solution of sodium . hydrogen sulphite ( 1 . 196 kg ) and sodium hydrogen carbonate ( 0 . 975 kg ) in water ( 23 l ). the phases were separated and the aqueous phase back - extracted with dichloromethane ( 1 . 5 kg , 2 l ). the combined organic phases were washed with saturated brine solution ( 6 l ) and dried over magnesium sulphate ( 1 kg ) before concentration in vacuo to an oil on a 20 l rotary evaporator to yield compound vii of fig2 as a crude red oil ( 1 . 74 kg , 3 . 51 mol , 93 . 7 % crude yield ) which was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran ( 2 . 71 kg ) and stored at − 30 ° c . for use in the next stage . compound vii ( 1 . 028 kg ) was concentrated in vacuo leaving a crude oil , which was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran ( 9 . 5 kg , 10 . 6 l , kf value = 0 . 02 %) an d charged to a 20 l flask . the flask was then cooled back to & lt ;− 50 ° c . and triethylamine ( 848 g , 1 . 168 l ) added over 5 minutes . the batch was stirred at − 50 ° c . for 1 hour , warmed to 20 ° c . over two hours and then stirred at 20 - 25 ° c . for another 2 hours . the reaction was shown to be complete by tlc ( disappearance of starting material ). toluene ( 17 . 7 l ) was charged to a 50 l flask and the reaction mixture added to this , followed by a rinse with toluene ( 3 . 55 l ). after settling and splitting , the organic phase was washed with 10 % brine solution ( 3 × 12 l ), followed by saturated brine solution ( 3 l ), dried over sodium sulphate ( 1 kg ) before and concentrated in vacuo until a 2 l volume of solution of compound viii of fig2 in toluene was obtained which was made up to 4 . 5 kg with toluene . a slurry of silica gel 60 ( 1500 g ) in diethyl ether : n - pentane ( 1 . 5 : 1 ) was made up and charged to a jacketed column ( 80 mm i . d .) and cooled by glycol circulating at − 15 ° c . crude compound viii ( 22 . 5 - 25 . 0 % w / w , 450 g solution , 101 . 3 - 112 . 5 g active crude mixture ) was charged to the silica and eluted with diethyl ether : n - pentane ( 1 . 5 : 1 ) pre - cooled to − 20 ° c . the product was eluted with 25 l of mixed solvent and 2 l of diethyl ether with collection of 1 l fractions and concentrated in vacuo at − 20 ° c . to give trans compound viii of fig2 ( typically 46 g ) which was stored at − 20 ° c . to a 10 l flask was charged demineralised water ( 750 ml ), 10 % palladium on charcoal ( johnson matthey , type 87 l , 60 % water , 55 g damp solid , 2 . 2 g palladium , 0 . 0207 mol , 0 . 0211 equiv ) and ethyl acetate ( 1750 ml ). the flask was purged with nitrogen for 15 minutes then hydrogen and the batch cooled to & lt ; 0 ° c . vigorous agitation ( 450 to 500 rpm ) was used throughout . trans compound viii ( 45 g , 0 . 098 mol ) was dissolved in ethyl acetate ( 300 ml ) at − 30 ° c ., resulting in a final solution temperature of − 5 ° c . this was added to the batch whilst maintaining the reaction and header temperatures at & lt ; 0 ° c . the batch was hydrogenated for up to 90 minutes , maintaining a steady hydrogen flow throughout . the reaction was deemed complete when hplc analysis of the organic layer showed an absence of starting material . the catalyst was removed by filtration through celite 521 ( 50 g , pre - washed with demineralised water and ethyl acetate ) as quickly as possible maintaining a temperature of less than 0 ° c . the spent catalyst was washed with pre - cooled ethyl acetate ( 100 ml ) and demineralised water ( 2 × 100 ml ) at 0 ° c . after settling , the aqueous phase was isolated , held at 0 ° c . and washed with n - pentane : toluene ( 3 : 1 ) ( 225 ml ) which had been cooled to − 20 ° c . the aqueous phase containing product was successively filtered through 1 . 6 mm glass fibre paper ( gf / a grade ) and polyethersulphone membrane ( pore size 0 . 2 mm , pes grade ) with a glass fibre pre - filter cartridge ( gfp grade ) resulting in a completely clear pale yellow - amber solution . this was was frozen in 200 ml aliquots onto the walls of 500 ml flasks at − 78 ° c . after freeze - drying for 72 hours ( 5r , 6r , 1 ′ r )- 3 -( 4 - amino - 1 , 1 - dimethylbutyl )- 6 -( 1 ′- hydroxyethyl )- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylic acid ( typically ˜ 50 % corrected yield ) was isolated as a voluminous off - white to pale yellow solid . compounds a and e are made by simple adaptation of the synthesis of pfob , above . in a 500 ml schlenk flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer and a reflux condenser connected with a balloon filled with nitrogen a solution of p - nitrobenzyl ( 3s , 4r )-( 3 -( 1 ′( r )- tert - butyldimethylsilyloxyethyl )- 4 - methylthio - 2 - oxoazetidinyl ) acetate ( 14 . 13 g , 30 . 15 mmol ) [ compound iv in the synthesis of pfob . ], acetic acid ( 17 . 3 ml , 302 mmol ) and tetrabutylammonium fluoride ( 23 . 2 g , 88 . 6 mmol ) in dry tetrahydrofuran was refluxed for 12 h . tlc on silica gel indicated an almost complete conversion . the mixture was diluted with toluene ( 2500 ml ) and washed subsequently with 500 ml portions of 10 % khco 3 , 10 % nacl ( twice ) and saturated nacl . the organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate , filtered and the filtrate evaporated in vacuum leaving a noncrystalline residue ( 12 g ) purification by column chromatography on silica gel ( 440 g , 40 - 63 mm ) with toluene - ethyl acetate ( 2 : 1 , 3 : 2 , and 1 : 1 ) using 440 ml fractions gave p - nitrobenzyl ( 3s , 4r )-( 3 -( 1 ′( r )- hydroxyethyl )- 4 - methylthio - 2 - oxoazetidinyl ) acetate as a pure crystalline product ( 6 . 38 g , 60 %) from fractions 10 - 16 . mp . 77 - 79 ° c . to a 500 ml schlenk flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer , a rubber septum and a balloon filled with nitrogen p - nitrobenzyl ( 3s , 4r )-( 3 -( 1 ′( r )- hydroxyethyl )- 4 - methylthio - 2 - oxoazetidinyl ) acetate ( 6 . 35 g , 17 . 93 mmol ), triphenylphosphine ( 9 . 4 g , 35 . 86 mmol ) and dry tetrahydrofuran ( 134 ml ) were added . to this mixture dry formic acid ( 2 . 03 ml , 53 . 79 mmol ) was added and to this stirred solution at − 10 ° c . diisopropyl azodicarboxylate ( 7 . 03 ml , 35 . 86 mmol ) was slowly added over 30 min . a precipitate was formed after 10 min . the suspension was stirred for additional 30 min at 0 ° c . and for additional 90 min at room temperature where upon the precipitate redissolved . a dark yellow solution was thus obtained . the reaction mixture was diluted with toluene ( 1500 ml ) and subsequently washed with 1200 ml portions of water , 10 % khco 3 , and 10 % nacl . the organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate , filtered and the solvent removed in vacuum leaving an oil . it was purified by silica gel chromatography ( 205 g , 63 - 200 mm ) using 200 ml fractions of toluene - ethyl acetate ( 9 : 1 ). the fractions were investigated by silica gel tlc ( chloroform - ethyl acetate 4 : 1 ). from fractions 6 - 15 p - nitrobenzyl ( 3s , 4r )-( 3 -( 1 ′( s )- formyloxyethyl )- 4 - methylthio - 2 - oxoazetidinyl ) acetate was collected as an impure semi crystalline solid ( 10 . 01 g ) ( 6 . 85 %= 100 %). to a 500 ml round bottomed flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer crude p - nitrobenzyl ( 3s , 4r )-( 3 -( 1 ′( s )- formyloxyethyl )- 4 - methylthio - 2 - oxoazetidinyl ) acetate ( 10 . 01 g , prepared from 17 . 93 mmol of precursor ) and methanol ( 180 ml ) were added . to this mixture aqueous 1 n hcl ( 17 . 9 ml , 17 . 9 mmol ) was added and the solution stirred overnight at room temperature . tic on silica gel indicated complete reaction . the reaction mixture was diluted with toluene ( 1600 ml ) and the solution washed subsequently with cold water ( 1100 ml ), 10 % khco 3 ( 500 ml ) and 10 % nacl ( 500 ml ). the organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate , filtered and the resulting solution evaporated in vacuum leaving an oil . it was purified by column chromatography on silica gel using 200 ml fractions and toluene - ethyl acetate ( 2 : 1 and 1 : 1 ). p - nitrobenzyl ( 3s , 4r )-( 3 -( 1 ′ ( s )- hydroxyethyl )- 4 - methylthio - 2 - oxoazetidinyl ) acetate was obtained as a noncrystalline solid ( 3 . 77 g , 59 %) from fractions 9 - 19 . to a 100 ml schlenk flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer and a balloon filled with nitrogen p - nitrobenzyl ( 3s , 4r )-( 3 -( 1 ′( s )- hydroxyethyl )- 4 - methylthio - 2 - oxoazetidinyl ) acetate ( 3 . 72 g , 10 . 50 mmol ) and dry ( ethanol free ) methylene chloride ( 23 ml ) were added . a solution of p - nitrobenzyl chloroformate ( 3 . 08 g , 14 . 28 mmol ) in methylene chloride was slowly added at − 18 ° c . to this mixture was added with stirring solid n , n - dimethylaminopydridine ( 1 . 74 g , 14 . 28 mmol ) in small portions over 20 min . after stirring at − 18 ° c . for 4 h silica gel tic indicated a complete reaction . the reaction mixture was diluted with methylene chloride ( 230 ml ) and the resulting solution was washed subsequently with portions ( 120 ml ) of 1 n hcl , saturated nahco 3 and 10 % nacl . the hcl phase was reextracted with methylene chloride ( 40 ml ) and the extraction solution washed with nahco 3 . the combined extraction solutions were dried over magnesium sulfate , filtered and the solvent removed in vacuum leaving the crude product ( 5 . 24 g ). purification by silica gel chromatography ( 170 g , 63 - 200 mm ) using 170 ml fractions of toluene - ethyl acetate ( 6 : 1 ) yielded p - nitrobenzyl ( 3s , 4r )-( 3 -( 1 ′( s )- p - nitrobenzyloxcarbonyloxyethyl )- 4 - methylthio - 2 - oxoazetidinyl ) acetate as a noncrystalline solid ( 4 . 80 g , 86 to a 250 ml schlenk flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer , a rubber septum and a balloon filled with nitrogen p - nitrobenzyl ( 3s , 4r )-( 3 -( 1 ′( s )- p - nitrobenzyloxcarbonyloxyethyl )- 4 - methylthio - 2 - oxoazetidinyl ) acetate ( 1 . 00 g , 1 . 87 mmol ) and dry tetrahydrofuran ( 46 ml ) were added . to this mixture 5 - azido - 2 , 2 - dimethyl - pentanoyl chloride ( 0 . 37 g , 1 . 96 mmol ) was added at − 78 ° c . and subsequently at − 78 ° c . a 1 m solution of lithium bis - trimethylsilylamide ( 3 . 74 ml , 3 . 74 mmol ) in tetrahydrofuran was added within 15 min . the initially formed orange solution turned to pale yellow . after 15 min of additional stirring tlc on silica gel indicated complete reaction . the reaction mixture was diluted with toluene ( 240 ml ), washed with portions ( 220 ml ) of 2 n hcl and twice with saturated nacl . the organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate , filtered and the filtrate evaporated in vacuum to give noncrystalline crude material ( 1 . 38 g ) after short drying in high vacuum . purification by column chromatography on silica gel ( 92 g , 63 - 200 mm ) with toluene - ethyl acetate ( 9 : 1 ) using 90 ml fractions gave p - nitrobenzyl 7 - azido - 4 , 4 - dimethyl - 2 -[( 3s , 4r )- 4 - methylthio - 3 -[( s )- 1 - p - nitrobenzyloxcarbonyloxyethyl ]- 2 - oxo - 1 - azetidinyl ]- 3 - oxo - heptanoate as a pale yellow noncrystalline solid ( 1 . 01 g , 79 %) after double evaporation with methylene chloride and drying in high vacuum . to a 250 ml schlenk flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer , a rubber septum and a balloon filled with nitrogen p - nitrobenzyl 7 - azido - 4 , 4 - dimethyl - 2 -[( 3s , 4r )- 4 - methylthio - 3 -[( s )- 1 - p - nitrobenzyloxcarbonyloxyethyl ]- 2 - oxo - 1 - azetidinyl ]- 3 - oxoheptanoate ( 0 . 97 g , 1 . 41 mmol ) and dry , ethanol free methylene chloride ( 56 ml ) were added . to this mixture at − 60 ° c . dry chlorine gas was introduced by a syringe , by inlet through the surface . after 10 min at − 50 ° c . tlc on silica gel indicated complete reaction . the cold solution was poured on an aqueous solution containing nahso 3 ( 2 . 82 g , anhydrous ) and sodium carbonate ( 2 . 23 g , anhydrous ). the mixture was shaken for 4 min , the organic phase collected and the aqueous phase extracted with a small portion of methylene chloride . the organic solutions were subsequently washed twice with portions ( 37 ml ) of 10 % nacl and the organic solutions were combined and dried over magnesium sulfate . after evaporation in vacuum a noncrystalline solid ( 0 . 95 g ) resulted . it was purified by fast column chromatography on silica gel ( 2 . 3 g , 63 - 200 mm ) with toluene - ethyl acetate 19 : 1 and 4 : 1 using 5 ml fractions . from fractions 2 - 14 p - nitrobenzyl 7 - azido - 2 -[( 3s , 4r )- 4 - chloro - 3 -[( s )- 1 - p - nitrobenzyloxcarbonyloxyethyl ]- 2 - oxo - 1 - azetidinyl ]- 4 , 4 - dimethyl - 3 - oxo - heptanoate was obtained as a pale yellow , non - crystalline solid ( 930 mg , 97 %) after evaporation of the solvent in vacuum and drying of the residue in high vacuum . to a 100 ml schlenk flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer , a rubber septum and a balloon filled with nitrogen p - nitrobenzyl 7 - azido -[( 3s , 4r )- 4 - chloro - 3 -[( s )- 1 - p - nitrobenzyloxcarbonyloxyethyl ]- 2 - oxo - 1 - azetidinyl ]- 4 , 4 - dimethyl - 3 - oxo - heptanoate ( 910 mg , 1 . 35 mmol ) and dry tetrahydrofuran ( 27 ml ) were added . to this mixture a 0 . 92 m solution of potassium tert - butoxide ( 1 . 54 ml , 1 . 42 mmol ) in dry tert - butanol was added slowly at − 30 ° c . the reaction mixture was allowed to stir for 150 min at − 30 ° c . tlc indicated a complete conversion . the dark yellow solution was diluted with ethyl acetate ( 150 ml ), allowed to stand for 5 min and then was washed with . 10 % nacl ( 130 ml ), 10 % nacl ( 65 ml ) and saturated nacl ( 65 ml ). the organic layer was collected and dried over magnesium sulfate . after filtration and evaporation of the solvent in vacuum a yellow oil ( 860 mg ) resulted after drying at high vacuum for 90 min . it was purified by medium pressure column chromatography at low temperature (− 13 ° c .) on silica gel ( 60 g , 5 - 20 mm ) with toluene - butyl acetate ( 19 : 1 ) collecting fractions of 30 ml each . the fractions were kept at − 20 ° c . from fractions 11 - 13 pure trans p - nitrobenzyl ( 5r , 6r )- 3 -[ 4 - azido - 1 , 1 - dimethylbutyl ]- 6 -[( s )- 1 - p - nitrobenzyloxycarbonyloxyethyl ]- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylate ( 306 mg , 35 %) was obtained as a colourless non - crystalline solid after evaporation of the solvent in high vacuum . from fractions 14 - 21 a cis - trans isomeric mixture ( 277 mg , 32 %) was secured similarly . in a 100 ml two necked flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer , a rubber septum and connected to a hydrogenation apparatus palladium on carbon catalyst ( 10 %, 300 mg ) in ethyl acetate ( 13 ml ) and water ( 13 ml ) was prehydrogenated for 20 min at 0 ° c . a solution of p - nitrobenzyl ( 5r , 6r )- 3 -[ 4 - azido - 1 , 1 - dimethylbutyl ]- 6 -[( s )- 1 - p - nitrobenzyloxycarbonyloxyethyl ]- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylate ( 280 mg , 0 . 44 mmol ) in ethyl acetate ( 10 ml ) was then added with a syringe at 0 ° c . with stirring . after 50 min of stirring at 0 ° c . hydrogen uptake came to an end ( 90 ml of hydrogen was consumed ). the catalyst was removed by filtration , washed with a small portion of ethyl acetate and water and the chilled two phase mixture allowed to separate . the aqueous phase was washed twice with portions ( 3 ml ) of cold ethyl acetate and water and the ethyl acetate phases were reextracted twice with portions ( 3 ml ) of water . residual ethyl acetate was removed from the combined water phases in vacuum and then in high vacuum at 0 ° c . and the volume was reduced to 13 ml in high vacuum . the solution was lyophilized at − 25 ° c . for three days to give ( 5r , 6r )- 3 -[ 4 - amino - 1 , 1 - dimethylbutyl ]- 6 -[( s )- 1 - hydroxyethyl ]- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylic acid ( yob ) as a colourless voluminous powder ( 98 mg , 75 %) a highly stable pharmaceutical preparation of ( 5r , 6r , 1 ′ r )- 3 -( 4 - amino - 1 , 1 - dimethylbutyl )- 6 -( 1 ′- hydroxyethyl )- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylic acid ( pfob ) in lactose . a solution of 3 . 79 g ( 8 . 25 mmol ) p - nitrobenzyl ( 5r , 6r , 1 ′ r ) 3 -( 4 - azido - 1 - dimethylbutyl )- 6 -( 1 ′- hydroxyethyl )- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylate in 30 ml ethyl acetate was added at 0 ° via a syringe through a rubber septum to a prehydrogenated mixture of 3 . 1 g palladium on charcoal ( 10 %) in 120 ml of ethyl acetate and 60 ml of water . after a reaction time of 70 minutes at 0 ° c ., 840 ml of hydrogen have been taken up ( theoretical amount 740 ml ). the reaction mixture was filtered through a g5 glass filter of 10 cm diameter , the residue washed with 30 ml of cold water and 30 mol of cold ethyl acetate and the ethyl acetate layer removed from the combined filtrates . the aqueous layer was washed at 0 ° c . with 50 ml of cold ethyl acetate and 50 ml of cold toluene and the resulting aqueous colloidal solution pressed through a membrane filter using a syringe where upon the layers separated . the aqueous layer was evacuated in high vacuum in order to remove residual organic solvents . to the aqueous solution ( 89 . 8 ml ) a cold solution containing 7 . 20 g lactose monohydrate in 180 ml water was added and 3 ml portions of the resulting solution filled into glass ampoules . the - content was frozen in a dry ice - acetone bath and the water removed in a lyophiliser at − 25 ° c . during 4 days at 0 . 01 mbar . the resulting white powder was dried in a desiccator over phosphorus pentoxide overnight at 0 . 001 mbar and room temperature leaving 98 . 3 mg of white powder in each ampoule . uv spectroscopy in water at 262 nm revealed a content of 18 . 2 mg of title compound and 80 . 1 mg of lactose in each ampoule . the ampoules were filled with dry nitrogen and sealed or alternatively stored over drying agents . following the procedure given in section c1 neat title compound as a white powder was obtained after simple lyophilization at − 25 ° c . ( without lactose ) and after overnight drying at 0 . 001 bar and room temperature over phosphorus pentoxide . the compound thus obtained is suitable for administration as a pharmaceutical by known methods , or those discussed below . the novel oxapenem compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions . the oxapenem compounds may be made into pharmacutical compositions / medicaments by conventional methods , such as those disclosed in ep 0 301394 . other methods of making medicaments include the following : a unit dose form is prepared by mixing 300 mg of the ( 4 : 1 ) co - lyophilizate of lactose monohydrate and ( 5r , 6r , 1 ′ r )- 3 -( 4 - amino - 1 , 1 - dimethylbutyl )- 6 -( 1 ′- hydroxyethyl )- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylic acid ( pfob , example 1 ) with 120 mg of cefaclor and 5 mg of magnesium stearate and the 425 mg mixture is added to a gelatine no . 3 capsule . similarly , if co - lyophilisate of a higher content of oxapenem - 3 - carboxylic acid is used , other dose forms may be prepared likewise and filled into no . 3 gelatin capsules ; and should it be necessary to mix more than 425 mg of constituents together , larger capsules , and also compressed tablets and pills , may also be produced . the following examples illustrate the production of pharmaceutical preparations . the co - lyophilisate and the other active constituent ( ceflacor ) are mixed with the dicalcium phosphate and about half of the maize starch . the mixture is then granulated and coarsely sieved . it is dried at 45 ° c . and resieved through sieves of mesh width 1 . 0 mm ( no . 16 screens ). the remainder of the maize starch and the magnesium stearate are added and the mixture is compressed to form tablets each weighing 1195 mg and having a diameter of 1 . 27 cm ( 0 . 5 in .). ampoule ( 4 : 1 ) co - lyophilisate of lactose monohydrate and 1250 mg ( 5r , 6r , 1 ′ r )- 3 -( 4 - amino - 1 , 1 - dimethylbutyl )- 6 - ( 1 ′- hydroxyethyl )- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylic acid ceftazidime 500 mg sterile water ( is added from a separate ampoule 5 ml using a syringe immediately before use ) ( 4 : 1 ) co - lyophilisate of lactose monohydrate and 625 mg ( 5r , 6r , 1 ′ r )- 3 -( 4 - amino - 1 , 1 - dimethylbutyl )- 6 - ( 1 ′- hydroxyethyl )- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylic acid ceftazidime 250 mg hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 15 mg sterile water ( is added from a separate ampoule 2 ml using a syringe immediately before use ( 4 : 1 ) co - lyophilisate of lactose monohydrate and 250 mg ( 5r , 6r , 1 ′ r )- 3 -( 4 - amino - 1 , 1 - dimethylbutyl )- 6 -( 1 ′- hydroxyethyl )- 7 - oxo - 4 - oxa - 1 - azabicyclo [ 3 . 2 . 0 ] hept - 2 - ene - 2 - carboxylic acid ceftazidime 100 mg benzalkonium chloride 0 . 1 mg sterile water ( is added from a separate ampoule 2 ml using a syringe immediately before use ) yob , a , b , d and e may be used as pharmaceutically active agents in similar examples by simply substition for pfob in the above formulations . it should be noted that it is not necessary to co - lyophilise the active oxapenem ( pfob , yob etc ) with carrier ( e . g . lactose ) before mixing with the other reagents , although co - lyophilisation should enhance stability . the active components in the above preparations can be mixed alone or together with other biologically active components , such as lincomycin , a penicillin , streptomycin , novobiocin , gentamycin , neomycin , colistin and klanamycin , or with other therapeutic agents such as probenicid . it is understood that the specification and examples are illustrative but not limitative of the present invention and that other embodiments within the spirit on a scope of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art .
an oxapenem compound which is , or is capable of forming , a zwitterion of formula wherein r is a c 1 - c 8 branched or straight chain alkyl group which is substituted by a protonated nitrogen base . the compounds find particular use as high bioavailability β - lactamase inhibitors .