Diastereomeric 5R,6S-6-(1R-hydroxyethyl)-2-(cis-1-oxo-3-thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylic acids

Abstract: Diastereomeric 5 R ,6 S -6-(1 R -hydroxyethyl)-2-(1 S -oxo-­ 3 R -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylic acid and 5 R ,6 S -­ 6-(1 R -hydroxyethyl)-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-­ 3-carboxylic acid, and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts and in vivo hydrolyzable esters thereof, useful as systemic antibacterial agents; and intermediates and processes which are useful in the said synthesis of said diastereoisomers.

Description: The present invention is directed to the 2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio) diastereoisomer of 5 R , 6 S -6- (1 R -hydroxyethyl)-2-( cis -1-oxo-3-thionylanlythio)-2-penem-3-carboyxlic acid of the formula (II) below; the pharmaceutically-acceptable salts and in vivo hydrolyzable esters thereof; and intermediates and processes useful in the preparation of said diastereoisomer. Antibacterial 5 R ,6 S -6-(1 R -hydroxyethyl)-2-( cis -1-oxo-3-thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylic acid, which is a diastereomeric mixture of two compounds, was earlier disclosed as a valuable antibacterial substance by Hamanaka, U.S. Patent 4,619,924 and European patent application 130,025. Although detectable by analytical methods, the pure diastereomeric compounds of assigned structure have heretofore been unavailable. Disclosure of an improved process for that diastereomeric mixture from racemic cis -3-(acetylthio)thiolane 1-oxide, which employs mixed diastereomeric intermediates otherwise analogous to those presently used, will be found in a European patent application by Volkmann et al., scheduled for publication on May 27, 1987 under the No. 223,397. Concerning the present optically active precursors, Brown et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. , vol. 108, pp. 2049-2054 (1986) have reported the synthesis of ( S )-3-hydroxythiolane [inadvertently depicted as the ( R )-isomer, but actually of configuration opposite to that of the present ( R )-3-hydroxythiolane, of the formula (XI) below] by asymmetric hydroboration of 2,3-dihydrothiophene. Partial enzymic oxidation of racemic 3-hydroxythiolane by Jones et al., Can. J . Chem ., vol. 59, pp. 1574-1579 (1981) permitted recovery of 3-hydroxythiolane containing the ( R )-isomer in slight excess. Present optically active precursors (R)-(2-methanesulfonyloxyethyl)oxirane [of the formula (XIII) below wherein R⁹ = CH₃] and ( S )-2-bromo-1,4-di(methanesulfonyloxy)butane [of the formula (Xa) below wherein R⁸ = CH₃] are known compounds; both preparable according to Shibata et al., Heterocycles, vol. 24, pp. 1331-1346 (1986); the former also according to Boger et al., J. Org . Chem. , vol. 46, pp. 1208-1210 (1981). We have now discovered methods for preparing the diastereomeric penem compounds. Thus the present invention provides 5 R ,6 S -6-(1 R -hydroxyethyl)-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-3-carboxylates, of the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R is hydrogen or a radical forming an ester hydrolyzable under physiological conditions; and the pharmaceutically-acceptable cationic salt thereof when R is hydrogen. Because these compounds, and their several immediate precursors, are single, homogeneous compounds, the quality of the final product is much better controlled relative to the previously reported diastereomeric mixture of these compounds, an important factor in clinical use. Based on in vitro studies, the presently isolated compound of formula (II), shows about the same intrinsic antibacterial activity as the 1S-oxo-3R-thiolanylthio isomer. However it is surprising that, in the form of its pivaloyloxymethyl ester, the isomer of the formula II is better absorbed orally than the 1S,3R isomer; and evidently as a result of a lowered level of metabolic destruction, the isomer (II) shows virtually twice the urine recovery as the 1S-oxo-3R-thiolanylthio isomer, whether administered parenterally as the sodium salt or orally as the pivaloyloxymethyl ester. For these reasons, the present pure diastereoisomer is preferred over the earlier diastereomeric mixture. Said pharmaceutically-acceptable cationic salts include, but are not limited to, those of sodium, potassium, calcium, N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine (meglumine) and diethanolamine. The preferred cationic salts are those of potassium and sodium. The reference to esters which are hydrolyzable under physiological conditions refers to those esters frequently referred to as "pro-drugs." Such esters are now as well-known and common in the penicillin art as pharmaceutically-acceptable salts. Such esters are generally used to enhance oral absorption, but in any event are readily hydrolyzed in vivo to the parent acid. The more preferred ester forming radicals are those wherein R is: (5-methyl-1,3-dioxol-2-on-4-yl)methyl; 1H-isobenzofuran-3-on-1-yl; gamma-butyrolacton-4-yl; -CHR¹OCOR²; or -CHR¹OCOOR³; wherein R¹ is hydrogen or methyl; R² is (C₁-C₆)alkyl), (C₁-C₆)carboxyalkyl, carboxycyclohexyl or carboxyphenyl; and R³ is (C₁-C₆)alkyl. The most preferred radicals are pivaloyloxymethyl and 1-(ethoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl. The present invention is also directed to intermediate compounds of the absolute stereochemical formulas wherein R⁴ is hydrogen or a conventional silyl hydroxy protecting group, preferably t-butyldimethylsilyl; R⁵ is hydrogen, -CH₂-CX=CH₂, or -CH₂-O-CO-C(CH₃)₃ (with the proviso that R⁵ is -CH₂-CX=CH₂ when R⁴ is hydrogen) ; and X is hydrogen or chloro, preferably chloro; or a salt thereof when R⁵ is hydrogen; and wherein R⁶ is said conventional silyl protecting group; R⁷ is hydrogen or wherein R¹⁰ is -CH₂-CX=CH₂ or -CH₂-O-CO-C(CH₃)₃, and X is hydrogen or chloro. The intermediate compounds of formula (VI) are prepared by reaction of a 3 S -[thio(thiocarbonyl)thio]-thiolane-1 R -oxide of formula (VIIIa) below, with a 3 R , 4 R -4-acetoxy-3-[1 R -1-(silyl-protected hydroxy)ethyl]-2-azetidinone of formula (XVI). The first precursor required for this process of the absolute stereochemical formula wherein M ⊕ is an alkali metal cation, preferably Na ⊕ , is prepared by a process which comprises the steps of: (a) conversion of an epoxide of the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R⁹ is (C₁-C₃)alkyl, phenyl or p-tolyl, preferably methyl, by the action of an alkali metal sulfide in a reaction-inert solvent to form a compound of the absolute stereochemical formula (b) conventional sulfonylation of the compound of the formula (XI) in a reaction-inert solvent to form a compound of the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R⁸ is (C₁-C₃)alkyl, phenyl or tolyl, preferably the latter; (c) conventional oxidation of the compound of the formula (Xa) in a reaction-inert solvent to form a compound of the absolute stereochemical formula (d) conventional nucleophilic displacement of R⁸-SO₂-O in the compound of the formula (Xb) with an alkali metal thioacetate in a reaction-inert solvent to form a compound of the absolute stereochemical formula and (e) conventional conversion of the compound of the formula (VIIIb), by the action of CS₂ and an alkali metal alkoxide, preferably sodium ethoxide, in a reaction-inert solvent, to form said compound of the formula (VIIIa). The second precursor required for the synthesis of the above compound of the formula (VI) is 3 R ,4 R -4-acetoxy-3-[1 R -1-(silyl protected hydroxy)ethyl]2-azetidinone, of the formula where R⁶ is a conventional silyl hydroxy protecting group (preferably dimethyl-t-butylsilyl), a compound which is efficiently prepared from 6-aminopenicillanic acid, e.g., by the method of Leanza et al., Tetrahedron, vol. 39, pp. 2505-2513 (1983). Thus, in the first stage of the synthesis, the azetidinone (XVI) is converted to the diastereomeric compound of the formula (VI) wherein R⁶ is hydrogen, by reaction with the trithio-carbonate (VIIIa). With or without isolation of said trithiocarbonate, the reactants are combined in a reaction-inert solvent, such as a (C₁-C₃)alkanol, e.g., isopropanol, conveniently in the same solvent as that used for preparation of the trithiocarbonate, in the presence of excess carbon disulfide (which can be already present in situ from the preceding step). The reaction is generally carried out at reduced temperature, e.g., ±20° C., conveniently at ice bath temperature (0-5° C.). The compound of the formula (VI) wherein R⁷ is hydrogen is then reacted with an acid fluoride of the formula wherein R¹⁰ is as defined above, to form the corresponding compound (VI) wherein R⁷ is -COCOOR¹⁰. This step is carried out in a reaction-inert solvent at 0° to -80° C. in the presence of a tertiary amine. Lower temperatures, e.g., -30° to -70° C., are preferred. A preferred reaction-inert solvent is methylene chloride. A preferred tertiary amine is N,N-diisopropylethylamine. In the next step of the synthesis, the penem compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl-protecting group and R⁵ corresponds to R¹⁰, is formed by the action of a trialkyl phosphite (e.g., triethyl phosphite) on a compound of the formula (VI) wherein R⁷ is -COCOOR¹⁰. This step is also carried out in a reaction-inert solvent (e.g., ethanol-free chloroform). Temperature is not critical, but will generally be above ambient, e.g., 40° to 80° C., conveniently reflux temperature when chloroform is the solvent. In the final or penultimate step, the silyl-protecting group is removed by standard methods, e.g., in the case of the dimethyl-t-butylsilyl, by the action of acetic acid and tetrabutylammonium fluoride in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran, to form the compound of the formula (II) in the form of its pivaloyloxymethyl ester or of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is hydrogen and R⁵ is -CH₂-CX=CH₂. Finally, R⁵ is allyl or 2-chloroallyl, the ester is hydrolyzed to produce the desired penem of the formula (II), above, in the form of the acid or its pharmaceutically-acceptable cationic salt. Anhydrous conditions are generally employed to avoid any possible degradation of the beta-lactam. Preferred conditions employ 1 to 1.1 molar equivalents of an alkali metal salt of a lipophilic carboxylic acid (e.g., sodium 2-ethylhexanoate) in an anhydrous reaction-inert solvent (e.g., methylene chloride and/or ethyl acetate) in the presence of catalytic amounts of triphenylphosphine and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (e.g., about 0.15 molar equivalents of the former and about 0.075 molar equivalents of the latter). Although temperature is not critical, the reaction is conveniently carried out at ambient temperature. With these reagents, the compound of the formula (II) is usually initially isolated in the form of its alkali metal (e.g., sodium) salt. If desired, the salt is converted to the free acid form, during or after isolation, by standard methods, e.g., acidification of an aqueous solution of the salt, with extraction of the free acid into a water immiscible organic solvent. Other pharmaceutically-acceptable cationic salts of the present invention are also readily prepared by standard methods. For example, an equivalent of the corresponding cationic hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonate or of an amine, is combined with the carboxylic acid in an organic or aqueous solvent, preferably at reduced temperature (e.g., 0-5° C.), with vigorous agitation and slow addition of the base. The salt is isolated by concentration and/or the addition of a non-solvent. The compounds of the formula (II) wherein R represents an in vivo hydrolyzable ester are also prepared from the corresponding free acids or cationic salts according to known methods, readily identified by those skilled in the penicillin art (see for example, U.S. Patents 3,951,954; 4,234,579; 4,287,181; 4,342,693; 4,452,796; 4,342,693; 4,348,264; 4,416,891; and 4,457,924). In the present instance, the preferred precursors are hydroxy protected compounds of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group, preferably dimethyl-t-butylsilyl, and R⁵ is hydrogen or a salt, preferably the tetrabutylammonium salt. These precursors are obtained by selective hydrolysis of the corresponding allyl or 2-chloroallyl esters by the special method described above. The resulting alkali metal salt is preferably converted to the tetrabutylammonium salt prior to reacting with the ester forming reagent, e.g., chloromethyl pivalate or 1-chloroethyl ethyl carbonate. Preferred methods of ester formation are exemplified below. The silyl protecting group in the intermediate compounds is then removed to produce the desired compounds of the formula (II) wherein R is a radical forming an in vivo hydrolyzable ester. The required acid fluorides (XVII) are prepared from the corresponding acid chlorides using reagents previously used for this purpose, either anhydrous cesium fluoride (usually at or near ambient temperature, with reagents initially combined at lower temperature, e.g., 0° to -30° C.), or potassium fluorosulfinate (FSO₂K, usually at warmer temperatures, e.g., 45-85° C.). The latter reagent and conditions are preferred when R⁵ is pivaloyloxymethyl. Concerning other starting materials required for the process of the present invention, 3 R ,4 R -4-acetoxy-3-[1 R -1-(silyloxy)ethyl]-2-azetidinones are readily available according to the method of Leanza et al., cited above; allyl oxalochloride is available according to the method of Afonso et al., J . Am . Chem. Soc ., vol. 104, pp. 6138-6139 (1982); 2-chloroallyl oxalochloride is available from 2-chloroallyl alcohol and oxalyl chloride according to the method detailed below; and pivaloyloxymethyl oxalochloride is prepared by a series of steps from benzyl half ester of oxalic acid and chloromethyl pivalate, also detailed below. The pure diastereomeric, antibacterial compounds of the formula (II) are tested, formulated and used according to methods detailed in above cited Hamanaka, U.S. Patent 4,619,924. Within the human dosage ranges there disclosed, the more preferred dosage range for the present compounds is 10-80 mg/kg/day both orally and parenterally. These figures are illustrative only, since in some circumstances the attending physician will find it more beneficial to employ dosages outside of these ranges. In vivo hydrolyzable esters, particularly the pivaloyloxymethyl and 1-(ethoxycarbonyloxy)-ethyl esters, are preferred in oral use, while the sodium or potassium salts are particularly preferred for parenteral use. The following examples are given by way of illustration and describe preparation of the compounds of formula (II) together with the intermediates of formulae (IV) and (VI) and of the various precursors of formulae (Xi), (Xa), (Xb) and (VIIIa). EXAMPLE 1 ( R )-3-Hydroxythiolane (XI) In a dry flask under N₂, 19.62 g (0.118 mol) of ( R -(2-methanesulfonyloxyethyl)oxirane was dissolved in 600 ml acetonitrile and 100 ml water. Sodium sulfide (18.67 g, 0.239 mol) was added and the reaction mixture stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The two layers were separated and the aqueous layer extracted with methylene chloride (3 x 15 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with 1N sodium hydroxide. The aqueous layer was extracted with methylene chloride (3 x 150 ml), salted with NaCl, and extracted with an additional 2 x 100 ml of CH₂Cl₂. All organic layers were combined, washed with 50 ml 1N NaOH, 50 ml of saturated NaCl, dried (MgSO₄) and stripped to yield title product, 11.05 g (90% step yield, 90% over-all yield from the S -2-bromo-1,4-butanediol); [alpha] D = +13.93° (c = 1.4, CHC1₃) ; pnmr(CDCl3)delta(ppm): 1.70-1.90 (1H, m, CH), 2.00-2.18 (2H, m, CH, OH), 2.70-2.98 (4H, m, CH₂S), 4.50-4.52 (1H, m, CHO). For the corresponding S -isomer, Brown et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. , vol. 108, p. 2049 (1986) reported [alphal] 25 / D = -14.5 (c = 1, CHCl₃). EXAMPLE 2 ( R )-3-(p-Toluenesulfonyloxy)thiolane (Xa, R ⁸ = p -tolyl) In a flame-dried flask under nitrogen, 11.03 g (0.106 mol) ( R )-3-hydroxythiolane was dissolved in 150 ml dry methylene chloride and cooled to -5° C. To this was added 25.88 g (0.212 mol) 4-dimethylaminopyridine and 20.19 g. (0.106 mol) p-toluenesulfonyl-chloride and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 60 hours. It was then washed with 1N hydrochloric acid (25 ml), the wash extracted with methylene chloride (3 x 50 ml), the combined organic layers washed with brine, dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated to dryness to provide 34.73 crude product. This was filtered through a silica gel pad (5 inch diameter, 4 inches deep), eluting with 1:5 ethyl acetate:hexane, then ethyl acetate alone. The product-containing fractions were combined and evaporated to yield 21.52 g (79%) purified product; [alpha] D = +16.76° (c = 2.98,CHCl₃); pnmr(CDCl₃)delta(ppm): 1.76-1.90 (1H, m, CH), 2.12-2.26 (1H, m, CH), 2.40 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.70-3.00 (4H, m, CH₂S), 5.13-5.16 (1H, m, CHO), 7.25 (2H, d, CH), 7.74 (2H, d, CH). EXAMPLE 3 3 R -(p-Toluenesulfonyloxy)thiolane 1 R -Oxide (Xb, R ⁸ = tolyl) A solution of 46.30 g (0.179 mol) 3 R -(toluenesulfonyloxy)thiolane in 600 ml acetone, under nitrogen was cooled to 0° C. In a separate flask 61.73 g (0.100 mol) potassium peroxymonosulfate (2 KHSO₅·KHSO₄. K₂SO₄;) was stirred in 500 ml distilled water until clear. This was added to the acetone solution at 0° C. and the mixture allowed to warm to room temperature. After 25 minutes 75 ml of 10% (w/v) aqueous sodium sulfite was added, the acetone was evaporated, 300 ml ethyl acetate added and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 100 ml). The combined extracts were dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to dryness to yield 48.57 g of crude product. The latter was purified by silica gel chromatography using 10:10:1 ethyl acetate:CH₂C1₂:CH₃OH as eluant to afford purified title product, 34.67 g (71%); [alpha] D = +4.26° (c = 3.0, CHCl₃). EXAMPLE 4 3 S -(Acetylthio)thiolane 1 R -Oxide (VIIIb) In a flame-dried flask under nitrogen, 31.67 g (0.1156 mol) 3 R -(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)thiolane 1 R -oxide was dissolved in 300 ml acetone and 19.81 g (0.1734 mol) potassium thioacetate was added. The mixture was heated at reflux for 3.5 hours and allowed to stir at room temperature overnight. The mixture was filtered, rinsed and washed with 500 ml acetone and the filtrate and washings were evaporated in vacuo to obtain 23.96 g of the desired product as an oil. The oil was purified by flash chromatography on a 120 mm x 25 cm silica gel column eluting with 19:1 ethyl acetate:methanol collecting 125 ml fractions. Fractions 42-64 were combined and stripped to yield purified title product as an oil which crystallized on standing, 16.46 g; (80%); m.p. 51-52° C.; [alpha] D = -83.41° (c = 0.86, CHCl₃). Analysis calculated for C₆H₁₀S₂O₂: C, 40.4; H. 5.6%. Found: C, 40.15; H, 5.53%. EXAMPLE 5 Sodium 3 S -(Thio(thiocarbonyl)thio)thiolane 1 R -Oxide (VIIIa, M ⊕ = N ⊕ ) In a flame-dried flask under nitrogen, a solution of 1.78 g (10 mmol) 3S-(acetylthio)thiolane 1 R -oxide in 6 ml ethanol was cooled to -5° C. Sodium ethoxide (21% by weight in ethanol, 3.73 ml, 10 mmol) was added and the mixture stirred at -5° C. for 30 minutes, then cooled to -20° C., 3.0 ml (50 mmol) carbon disulfide added and stirring continued for 30 minutes. To this was added 75 ml anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. The resulting mixture was stirred for a few minutes, seeded with crystals of the title compound, cooled and held at 15° C., and stirred until crystallization was complete. The mixture was filtered, washed with cold tetrahydrofuran and then with ethyl ether. The resulting crystals were air-dried under nitrogen to afford 2.10 g of title product, solvated with 0.5 molar equivalents of tetrahydrofuran. Another 592 mg was recovered by reworking the mother liquor; m.p. 120-121° C. (dec.), blackens at 155-156° C.; [alpha] D = -79.52° (c = 0.05, in H₂O). EXAMPLE 6 3 S ,4 R -3-[1 R -1-(Dimethyl-t-butylsilyloxy)ethyl]-4-[1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio(thiocarbonyl)thio]-2-azetidinone (VI, R ⁷ = H, R ⁶ = Me ₂ tBuSi In a flame-dried flask under N₂, a solution of 3 R ,4 R -4-acetoxy-3-[1 R -(dimethyl-t-butylsilyloxy)ethyl]--2-azetidinone [1.87 g, 6.5 mmol; Leanza et al., Tetrahedron 39, pp. 2505-2513 (1983)] in 20 ml isopropyl alcohol and CS₂ (0.15 ml, 2.5 mmol) were combined and cooled to 3° C. The product of the preceding Example (1.36 g, 5 mmol) was added portionwise, maintaining 3° C. After 0.5 hour at 3° C., the reaction was quenched with 40 ml saturated ammonium chloride solution, and then 50 ml ethyl acetate was added. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with an additional 2 x 25 ml ethyl acetate. The combined ethyl acetate layers were washed 2 x 20 ml H₂O and 2 x 20 ml 20% CaCl₂, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to yield crude title product, 3.04 g. The latter was dissolved in about 2 ml acetone, isopropyl ether was added dropwise until precipitation of solid started, the mixture was stirred for one hour, then 120 ml petroleum ether was added rapidly with stirring. The resulting solid was collected by filtration, air-dried, then dried in vacuo, and finally chromatographed on silica gel using 19:1 ethyl acetate:methanol as eluant to yield 1.35 g (61%) of purified title product. Recrystallization from 4 ml acetone by the same procedure gave back 1.15 g of product; [alpha] D = +109.36° (c = 0.20, CHCl₃); pnmr(CDCl₃)(delta)(ppm) 300 MHz: 0.05 (s, 3H), 0.86 (s, 9H), 1.18 (s, 3H), 1.74 (s, 2H), 2.68 (m, 3H), 2.82 (m, 1H), 3.17 (m, 2H), 3.74 (q, 1H), 4.25 (t, 1H), 4.52 (t, 1H), 5.61 (s, 1H), 6.52 (s, 1H), 7.20 (s, 1H). EXAMPLE 7 3 S ,4 R -N-[(2-Chloroallyloxy)oxalyl]-3-[1 R -(dimethyl-t-butylsilyloxy)ethyl]-4-[1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio(thiocarbonyl)thio]-2-azetidinone (VI, R ⁶ = Me₂tBuSi, K ⁷ = COCOOCH ₂ CClCH ₂ ) A flame-dried, three-neck flask equipped with a dropping funnel and low temperature thermometer under a N₂ atmosphere was charged with the product of the preceding Example (878 mg, 2 mmol) and 15 ml dry methylene chloride (passed through neutral alumina). The reaction was cooled to -50° to -55° C. internal temperature and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (0.45 ml, 2.6 mmol) was added, keeping the temperature less than 50° C. Then 2-chloroallyl oxalofluoride (0.34 ml, 2.6 mmol) was added as fast as possible, again keeping the temperature below 50° C., and the reaction stirred an additional 50 minutes at -50° to -55° C. The reaction was quenched with 15 ml H₂O, allowed to warm to 0° C. and diluted with 20 ml fresh CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was separated, washed 1 x 15 ml H₂O, 1 x 20 ml pH 7 buffer and 1 x 25 ml saturated NaC1, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to yield 1.05 g of title product as a yellow foam, all of which was used directly in the next step. EXAMPLE 8 2-Chloroallyl 5 R ,6 S -6-[1 R -(Dimethyl-t-butylsilyloxy)ethyl]-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylate (IV, R ⁴ = Me ₂ tBuSi, R ⁵ = CH ₂ CClCH ₂ A flame-dried, three-neck flask equipped with a condenser and an equilibrating addition funnel under a N₂ atmosphere was charged with the product of the preceding Example (1.05 g, 2 mmol) and 80 ml ethanol-free chloroform. The reaction was heated to a gentle reflux and triethyl phosphite (0.74 ml, 48 mmol) in 10 ml ethanol-free chloroform was added dropwise over a ten-hour period. The reaction was heated at a gentle reflux for an additional ten hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in 5 ml ethyl acetate. Isopropyl ether (40 ml) was added dropwise with stirring as crystallization began. Finally, 40 ml petroleum ether was added dropwise, the mixture filtered and solids dried to yield 0.47 g (44%) of the product; m.p. 140-141° C., [alpha] D = +36.78° (c = 0.5, CHCl₃). EXAMPLE 9 2-Chloroallyl 5 R ,6 S -6-(1 R -Hydroxyethyl)-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylate (IV' R ⁴ = H, R ⁵ - CH ₂ CClCH ₂ ) A flame-dried, three-neck flask equipped with a thermometer and two addition funnels under a N₂ atmosphere was charged with the product of the preceding Example (0.25 g, 0.46 mmol) and 0.5 ml dry tetrahydrofuran. To the stirred reaction was added glacial acetic acid (0.26 ml, 4.6 mmol), followed by tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride in tetrahydrofuran (1M, 1.38 ml). The resulting solution was stirred sixteen hours at room temperature, diluted with 15 ml ethyl acetate and 4 ml water, adjusted to pH 6.4 with potassium acetate, the layers separated, and the organic layer washed 3 x 3 ml water. The latter were combined and back-washed 3 x 3 ml CH₂Cl₂. The combined organic layers (ethyl acetate and CH₂Cl₂) were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to yield crude product, 0.46 g. The crude was taken up in 25 ml ethyl acetate and washed 3 x 6 ml H₂O. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and stripped to yield purified title product, 88 mg; m.p. 177-178° C.; [alpha] D = +45.28° (c = 0.25 in dimethylsulfoxide). EXAMPLE 10 Sodium 5 R ,6 S -6-(1 R -Hydroxyethyl)-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylate (II, R = Na) A flame-dried flask wrapped in aluminum foil, under N₂, was charged with the product of the preceding Example (3.60 g, 8.5 mmol) in 115 ml of degassed CH₂Cl₂, followed by triphenylphosphine (0.72 g, 2.75 mmol), sodium 2-ethylhexanoate (6.72 ml of 1.39M in ethyl acetate, 9.34 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphos-phine)palladium (0.72 g, 0.62 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for fifty minutes, an additional 72 mg each of triphenylphosphine and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium were added and the reaction stirred at room temperature an additional twenty minutes. Hplc purity ethyl acetate (150 ml) was added to the reaction over a fifteen minute period. The reaction was filtered and the solids air-dried to yield crude product, 4.07 g. The latter was slurried with 45 ml ethyl acetate for 45 minutes, filtered and dried to afford 3.96 g of still crude product. The latter was taken up in 70 ml of water, treated with activated carbon, filtered and the filtrate freeze-dried to yield title product, 2.63 g. EXAMPLE 11 5 R ,6 S -6-(1 R -1-Hydroxyethyl)-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylic Acid (II, R = H) The sodium salt of the preceding Example (2.63 g) was dissolved in 8 ml H₂O and cooled to 0-5° C. The pH was adjusted to 2.45 with 1N HCl as product began to crystallize. The mixture was stirred at 0-5° C. for forty-five minutes, filtered, washed with a small amount of H₂O and dried to yield 2.16 g of title product as a white solid; m.p. 135° C. (dec.); [alpha] D = +366.01° (c = 1 in dimethylsulfoxide). EXAMPLE 12 Sterile Sodium 5 R ,6 S -6-(1 R -Hydroxyethyl)-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylate (II, R = Na) The product of the preceding Example (1.95 g) was suspended in 60 ml H₂O and cooled to 0-5° C. Maintaining that temperature range and using vigorous stirring, the pH was adjusted from 2.98 to a constant pH of 6.00 by the dropwise addition of NaOH (4.2 ml of 1N, followed by 10.75 ml of 0.1N). The solution was millipore filtered into a sterile flask and freeze-dried (if desired, freeze-dried after subdivision to obtain the desired dosage in rubber-stoppered sterile vials) to yield sterile title product, 1.926 g, which, if not already subdivided, can be subdivided into vials at the desired dosage level. This purified product shows m.p. 158° C. (dec.); [alpha] D = +81.31° (c = 1 in H₂O). For parenteral dosage, the sterile sodium salt is dissolved in sterile water for injection. EXAMPLE 13 Tetrabutylammonium 5 R ,6 S -6-[1 R -(Dimethyl-t-butyl-silyloxy)ethyl]-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylate (IV, R ⁴ = Me ₂ tBuSi, R ⁵ = TBA salt The product of Example 8 (0.80 g, 1.5 mmol) was reacted according to Example 10 to form intermediate sodium salt in situ. The reaction mixture was diluted with 35 ml ethyl acetate and 4 ml ether, washed 3 x 10 ml H₂O, the organic layer further diluted with 35 ml hexane, and finally washed 3 x 20 ml H₂O. The six aqueous layers were combined, then further combined with tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (0.51 g, 1.5 mmol) and NaHCO₃ (0.25 g, 3 mmol) in 5 ml H₂O. After stirring for 15 minutes and salting with Na₂SO₄, the desired product was extracted into CH₂Cl₂ (3 x 90 ml), dried (Na₂SO₄), treated with activated carbon, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to yield title product, 0.80 g; pnmr(CDCl₃)delta(ppm) 300 MHz: 0.05 (s, 6H), 0.85 (s, 9H), 0.99 (t, 12H), 1.28 (d, 3H), 1.30-1.50 (m, 8H), 1.50-1.70 (m, 8H), 2.50-2.82 (m, 4H), 2.96-3.10 (m, 1H), 3.05-3.42 (t, 8H), 3.45-3.62 (m, 2H), 3.80-3.92 (m, 1H), 4.05-4.18 (m, 1H), 5.42 (s, 1H). EXAMPLE 14 Pivaloyloxymethyl 5 R ,6 S -6-[1 R -(Dimethyl-t-butylsilyloxy)ethyl]-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylate (IV, R ⁴ = Me ₂ tBuSi, R ⁵ = CH ₂ -O-CO-C(CH ₃ ) ₃ In flame-dried glassware, under N₂ the product of the preceding Example (0.80 g, 1.13 mmol) was dissolved in 11 ml acetone. Chloromethyl pivalate (0.25 ml, 1.71 mmol) was added and the mixture stirred 16 hours at room temperature, then stripped in vacuo, finally under high vacuum, to yield title product, 1.05 g; pnmr (CDCl₃)delta(ppm) 300 MHz: 0.05 (s, 6H), 0.88 (s, 9H), 1.20 (s, 9H), 1.24 (d, 3H), 2.4-2.6 (m, 4H), 3.05-3.12 (m, 1H) , 3.6-3.90 (m, 3H), 4.15-4.28 (m, 1H), 5.59 (s, 1H), 5.81 (q, 2H, J AB = 12.5 Hz). EXAMPLE 15 Pivaloyloxymethyl 5 R ,6 S -6-(1 R -hydroxyethyl-2-(1 R -oxo-3 S -thiolanylthio)-2-penem-3-carboxylate ( II, R CH ₂ -O-CO-C(CH ₃ ) ₃ By the method of Example 9, the product of the preceding Example (0.40 g, 0.69 mmol) was converted to present title product. To isolate, the reaction mixture was diluted with 45 ml ethyl acetate and washed 4 x 9 ml H₂O. The water washes were combined and back extracted 3 x 9 ml ethyl acetate. All organic layers were combined, washed 2 x 9 ml saturated NaCl, dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo, ultimately under high vacuum to yield crude product, 0.28 g. The latter was flash chromatographed on a 40 mm x 25 cm column of silica gel, initially eluting with 1:9 ethyl acetate: tetrahydrofuran (50 ml fractions 1-10), and then with tetrahydrofuran for subsequent 50 ml fractions. Fractions 18-44 were combined, evaporated to dryness, and the residue stirred with 70 ml ethyl acetate and filtered to yield purified title product, 0.193 g; pnmr(CDCl₃)delta(ppm) 300 MHz: 1.18 (s, 9H), 1.29 (d, 3H, J=6.3 Hz), 2.12 (bs, 1H), 2.6-2.9 (m, 4 Hz), 3.1-3.2 (m, 1H), 3.6-3.90 (m, 3H), 4.20-4.32 (m, 1H), 5.64 (s, 1H), 5.76 (q, 2H, J AB =12.5 Hz). PREPARATION 1 2-Chloroallyl Oxalofluoride [(2-Chloroallyloxy)oxalyl Fluoride] CH ₂ =CClCH ₂ O(CO)COF Under dry N₂ in flame dried glass apparatus, cesium fluoride (167 g, 1.1 mol) was placed in a 1 liter single neck flask and placed under high vacuum and gently heated with a flame-until the solid became free flowing, then cooled to room temperature. Acetonitrile, distilled from CaH₂ (183 ml) was added and the mixture cooled to -20° C. internal temperature. 2-Chloroallyl oxalochloride (183 g, 1.0 mol) was added dropwise over a 30 minute period and the mixture slowly warmed to room temperature, stirred at that temperature for 16 hours, and byproduct cesium chloride recovered by filtration with acetonitrile wash. The filtrate and wash were combined and stripped, and the residue distilled at reduced temperature to yield 129 g (77%) of the desired product, b.p. 62-64° C./22 mm. IR(CHC1₃) cm⁻¹ 1770, 1870. ¹H-NMR(CDCl₃)delta(ppm) 4.80 (s, 2H), 5.4-5.6 (m, 2H). PREPARATION 2 Allyl Oxalofluoride [Allyloxalyl Fluoride] CH ₂ =CHCH ₂ O(CO)COF By the procedure of the preceding Preparation, allyl oxalochloride (252.5 g, 1.70 mol) and cesium fluoride (284 g, 1.87 mol) were converted to twice distilled title product, b.p. 48-50° C./35 mm; 124-126° C. (atmospheric pressure) . ¹H-NMR(CDCl₃ )250 MH₃, delta: 4.76 (d, 2H, J=6 Hz), 5.28 (dd, 1H, J=1, 7 Hz), 5.37 (dd, 1H, J=1, 17 Hz), 5.90 (ddt, 1H, J=6, 11, 17 Hz). ¹³C-NMR(CDCl₃)63 MHz, delta: 68.5 (t), 120.4 (t), 129.7 (d) , 146.3 (d, J C-F =375 Hz), 153.0 (d, J C-C-F =87 Hz). IR(neat) 1860 (C=O), 1770 (C=O), 1120 cm⁻¹. PREPARATION 3 2-Chloroallyl Oxalochloride [(2-Chloroallyloxy)oxalyl Chloride] Oxalyl chloride (130 ml, 1.49 mol) was placed in a dry 3-neck flask under N₂ and cooled to 0° C. With stirring, 2-chloroallyl alcohol (138 g, 1.49 mol) was added dropwise in a manner which maintained the temperature at 0-2° C. and-controlled the vigorous evolution of HCl, then allowed to warm to room temperature and held 16 hours and distilled to yield title product, 214 g, b.p. 82-84° C./23 mm. PREPARATION 4 Benzyl Oxalochloride [(Benzyloxy)oxalyl Chloride] Under N₂, oxalyl chloride (262 ml) was dissolved in 1 liter anhydrous ether and heated to reflux, at which temperature benzyl alcohol (207 ml) was added over 70 minutes. After refluxing a further 16 hours, ether was stripped and the residue distilled at reduced pressure to yield 372 g (94%) of title product, b.p./0.7 mm 85° C. PREPARATION 5 Oxalic Acid, Half Benzyl Ester Title product of the preceding Preparation (180 g, 0.91 mol) in 800 ml ether was cooled in an acetone-dry ice bath. As the mixture was allowed to warm to 0° C., aqueous NH₄OH (2M, 906 ml, 0.91 mol) was added portionwise. The mixture was then warmed to room temperature, stirred 1 hour, and the pH adjusted to 8.5 with 95 ml 2M NH₄OH. The aqueous layer was separated, extracted 2x 400 ml ether, layered with 500 ml fresh ether, cooled to 10° C. and the pH adjusted to 1.5 with 2M HCl. The layers were separated, the aqueous layer extracted 2x 400 ml ether, and the three acidic organic layers combined, washed with 500 ml brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and stripped to yield title product as white solids, 163 g. ¹H-NMR(CDCl₃)delta(ppm): 5.2 (s, 1H), 6.95 (s, 2H), 7.3 (s, 5H). PREPARATION 6 Benzyl Pivaloyloxymethyl Oxalate The product of the preceding Preparation (163 g, 0.91 mol) was dissolved in 1 liter CHCl₃ and carefully neutralized (foaming) with NaHCO₃ (76.2 g, 0.91 mol). Separately, tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (308 g, 0.91 mol) in 1.5 liters H₂O was carefully neutralized with a like quantity of NaHCO₃. The former slurry was added slowly to the latter solution, the mixture stirred vigorously for 20 minutes, the aqueous layer separated and washed with 500 ml fresh CHCl₃. The organic layers were combined, dried over Na₂SO₄ and stripped to yield tetrabutylammonium benzyl oxalate, 478 g. The latter was taken up in 400 ml acetone. Chloromethyl pivalate (118 ml, 0.82 mol) was added and the mixture stirred under N₂ for 16 hours at ambient temperature. The acetone was stripped, and the residue taken up in 1 liter ethyl acetate, washed 4x 500 ml H₂O and 1x 500 ml brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and stripped to yield title product as an oil, 201 g; tlc Rf 0.60 (2:3 ethyl acetate:hexane) . ¹H-NMR(CDCl₃, 90 MHz)delta(ppm): 1.21 (s, 9H), 5.2 (s, 2H), 5.8 (s, 2H), 7.3 (s, 5H). PREPARATION 7 Oxalic Acid, Half Pivaloyloxymethyl Ester Title product of the preceding Preparation (27.3 g, 0.093 mol) and 2.8 g of 10% Pd/C were combined in 150 ml ethyl acetate and hydrogenated in a Paar hydrogenation apparatus at 4x atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature for 1.5 hours. The catalyst was recovered by filtration over diatomaceous earth and the filtrate stripped to yield title product as an oil, 19.3 g. ¹H-NMR(CDCl₃, 90 MHz)delta(ppm): 1.21 (s, 9H), 5.96 (s, 2H), 10.31 (s, 1H). PREPARATION 8 Pivaloyloxymethyl Oxalochloride Title product of the preceding Preparation (19.2 g, 0.094 mol) was dissolved in 20 ml benzene and added portionwise over 20 minutes to oxalyl chloride (47.7 g, 33 ml, 0.376 mol) in 100 ml benzene. After 30 minutes, the mixture was stripped and the residue (19.2 g) distilled to yield title product, 16.4 g; b.p. 83° C./0.4 mm. PREPARATION 9 Pivaloyloxymethyl Oxalofluoride [Pivaloyloxymethyloxalyl Fluoride] (CH ₃ ) ₃ C(CO)OCH ₂ O(CO)COF Potassium fluorosulfinate (80% KSO₂F, 2.40 g, 1.92 g corrected, 0.016 mol) was added to oxalyl chloride (3.50 g, 0.016 mol) and the mixture gradually warmed in an oil bath to 60° C., at which point vigorous gas evolution began. The bath was removed. Once the reaction subsided, the oil bath was replaced, the mixture warmed to 80° C. and held for 15 minutes, cooled to 60° C. and distilled from a bath at 60° C. to yield title product, 1.19 g; b.p. 52-54° C./0.4 mm.; solidified on storage at -50° C., melts at ambient temperature. ¹³C-NMR: 176.6, 152.6 and 151.5, 148.1 and 140.2, 81.7, 38.8, and 26.6, with splitting of oxalate carbonyls 89 Hz and 252.6 Hz. PREPARATION 10 ( S )-2-Bromosuccinic Acid To a solution of 1,000 g (9.72 mol) sodium bromide in 2.1 liters 6N sulfuric acid under nitrogen was added 323.1 g (2.43 mol) L-aspartic acid and the resulting solution cooled to 5° C. To this was added in portions over 1.5 hours, 201.4 g (2.92 mol) sodium nitrite while keeping the temperature below 10° C. After the addition was completed, one liter of distilled water was added, followed by 73.07 g (1.22 mol) urea. The resulting mixture was poured into a separatory funnel and extracted with 2.5 liters ethyl ether. To the aqueous layer was added 500 g sodium chloride, and the mixture extracted three times with ether (3 x 1.25 liters). The combined ether layers were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄) and the solvent evaporated in vacuo to yield 303 g (63%) of the desired compound; [alpha] D = -73.5° (c = 0.6 in ethyl acetate); m.p. 185° C. PREPARATION 11 ( S )-2-Bromo-1,4-butanediol Employing flame-dried glassware under nitrogen, 303.14 g (1.54 mol) ( S )-2-bromosuccinic acid was dissolved in 3.2 liters anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the mixture cooled to -20° C. To this was added dropwise over 90 minutes, a solution of 350.78 g borane-methyl sulfide complex in 438 ml of tetrahydrofuran (4.62 mol). The mixture was stirred while warming slowly to 18° C. whereupon the reaction mixture liberated hydrogen gas and became exothermic. The mixture was cooled in dry ice/acetone while passing nitrogen over the mixture. After 15 minutes the cooling bath was removed, and the reaction allowed to warm to ambient temperature and maintained under a sweep of nitrogen for 60 hours. A liter of methanol was added slowly, the sweep of nitrogen continued for 30 minutes, and the solvents then evaporated. The residue was taken up in one liter methanol and solvent evaporated again. This was repeated two more times to obtain 282.41 g (100%) of the desired diol. PREPARATION 12 ( R )-(2-Methanesulfonyloxyethyl)oxirane A. Employing dry glassware, under nitrogen, 20 g (0.118 mol) ( S )-2-bromo-1,4-butanediol was dissolved in 400 ml dry methylene chloride and 69.41 g (0.213 mol) cesium carbonate was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 40 hours and then filtered with CH₂Cl₂ wash. The combined filtrate and wash liquor was used directly in Part B below. When desired, the solvent was stripped to yield intermediate ( R )-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)oxirane in virtually quantitative yield. B. In a flame-dried flask, under nitrogen, was added the entire product solution from Part A (about 800 ml), which was then cooled to -25° C. Triethylamine (21.55 g, 0.213 mol) was added followed by slow addition of 20.34 g (0.178 mol) of methanesulfonyl chloride over 25 minutes, maintaining less than -20° C. The resulting mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature over 1.5 hours, extracted 1 x 50 ml pH 4 buffer, and the buffer back-extracted 3 x 50 ml CH₂Cl₂. The organic extracts were combined with the original organic layer, extracted 1 x 50 ml saturated NaCl, and the brine back-extracted with 3 x 50 ml CH₂Cl₂ and the organic extracts combined with the original organic layer, which was stripped to yield title product in substantially quantitative yield; [alpha] D = +34.7° (c = 0.1 in CH₂Cl₂) ; pnmr(CDCl₃)delta(ppm): 1.76-1.85 (1H, m, CH), 2.02-2.11 (1H, m, CH), 2.50-2.52 (1H, m, CHO), 2.77-2.80 (1H, m, CHO), 2.98-3.04 (1H, m, CHO), 2.99 (3H, s, CH₃), 4.32 (2H, t, CH₂O).

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, DE, FR, GB, IT, LI, LU, NL, SE A penem having the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R is hydrogen or a radical forming an ester hydrolyzable under physiological conditions; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable cationic salt thereof when R is hydrogen. A compound of claim 1 wherein R is hydrogen or pivaloyloxymethyl. A compound having the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R⁴ is hydrogen or a conventional silyl hydroxy protecting group; R⁵ is hydrogen, and X is hydrogen or chloro; with the proviso that R⁵ is -CH₂-CX=CH₂ when R⁴ is hydrogen; or a salt thereof when R⁵ is hydrogen. A compound of claim 3 wherein R⁴ is hydrogen or dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl, R⁵ is -CH₂-CX=CH₂, and X is chloro. A compound having the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R⁶ is a conventional silyl protecting group; R⁷ is hydrogen or R¹⁰ is and X is hydrogen or chloro. The compound of claim 5 wherein R⁶ is dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl and R⁷ is-hydrogen or Claims for the following Contracting State : ES A process for a penem having the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R is hydrogen or a radical forming an ester hydrolyzable under physiological conditions; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable cationic salt thereof when R is hydrogen which comprises: (a) when R is hydrogen, reaction of a compound of the formula wherein X is hydrogen or chloro, with at least one equivalent of an alkali metal salt of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in a reaction-inert solvent in the presence of triphenylphosphine and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium; (b) when R is a radical forming an ester, reaction of a cationic salt of a compound of the formula wherein R⁶ is a silyl hydroxy protecting group, with an organic chloride or bromide derivative of the radical R. A process of claim 1 wherein R is hydrogen and X is chloro, or wherein R is pivaloyloxymethyl and R⁶ is dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl. A process for the preparation of a compound of the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R⁶ is a conventional silyl hydroxy protecting group; R¹⁰ is and X is hydrogen or chloro; which comprises acylation of a compound of the formula with an acid fluoride of the formula A process of claim 3 wherein R⁶ is dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl and R¹⁰ is -CH₂CCl=CH₂. A process for the preparation of a compound having the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R⁴ is hydrogen or a conventional silyl hydroxy protecting group; R⁵ is hydrogen, and X is hydrogen or chloro; with the proviso that R⁵ is -CH₂-CX=CH₂ when R⁴ is hydrogen; or a salt thereof when R⁵ is hydrogen, which comprises the steps of: (a) acylation of a compound of the formula with an acid fluoride of the formula to form a compound of the formula wherein R⁶ is a conventional silyl protecting group; R¹⁰ is and X is hydrogen or chloro; (b) cyclization of the compound of the formula (VIb) to form a compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a conventional silyl hydroxy protecting group and R⁵ is a value of R¹⁰; and, as is necessary to obtain a further compound of the formula (IV): (c) hydrolyzing a formed compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is -CH₂CX=CH₂ to form a compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is hydrogen and R⁵ is -CH₂CX=CH₂; or (d) reacting a formed compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is -CH₂CX=CH₂ with at least one equivalent of an alkali metal salt of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in a reaction inert solvent in the presence of triphenylphosphine and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium to form a compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is hydrogen; and (e) reacting a cationic salt of a formed compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is hydrogen with an organic chloride or bromide derivative of the radical R in a reaction inert solvent to form a compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is a radical forming an ester. A process of claim 5 wherein R⁴ and R⁶ are each dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl, R¹⁰ is -CH₂CCl=CH₂ and R⁵ is pivaloyloxymethyl; or wherein R⁶ is dimethyl(t-butyl)-silyl, R⁴ is hydrogen and R⁵ and R¹⁰ are each -CH₂CCl=CH₂. Claims for the following Contracting State : GR A process for a penem having the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R is hydrogen or a radical forming an ester hydrolyzable under physiological conditions; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable cationic salt thereof when R is hydrogen which comprises: (a) when R is hydrogen, reaction of a compound of the formula wherein X is hydrogen or chloro, with at least one equivalent of an alkali metal salt of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in a reaction-inert solvent in the presence of triphenylphosphine and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium; (b) when R is a radical forming an ester, reaction of a cationic salt of a compound of the formula wherein R⁶ is a silyl hydroxy protecting group, with an organic chloride or bromide derivative of the radical R. A process of claim 1 wherein R is hydrogen and X is chloro, or wherein R is pivaloyloxymethyl and R⁶ is dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl. A process for the preparation of a compound of the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R⁶ is a conventional silyl hydroxy protecting group; R¹⁰ is and X is hydrogen or chloro; which comprises acylation of a compound of the formula with an acid fluoride of the formula A process of claim 3 wherein R⁶ is dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl and R¹⁰ is -CH₂CCl=CH₂. A process for the preparation of a compound having the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R⁴ is hydrogen or a conventional silyl hydroxy protecting group; R⁵ is hydrogen, and X is hydrogen or chloro; with the proviso that R⁵ is -CH₂-CX=CH₂ when R⁴ is hydrogen; or a salt thereof when R⁵ is hydrogen, which comprises the steps of: (a) acylation of a compound of the formula with an acid fluoride of the formula to form a compound of the formula wherein R⁶ is a conventional silyl protecting group; R¹⁰ is and X is hydrogen or chloro; (b) cyclization of the compound of the formula (VIb) to form a compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a conventional silyl hydroxy protecting group and R⁵ is a value of R¹⁰; and, as is necessary to obtain a further compound of the formula (IV): (c) hydrolyzing a formed compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is -CH₂CX=CH₂ to form a compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is hydrogen and R⁵ is -CH₂CX=CH₂; or (d) reacting a formed compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is -CH₂CX=CH₂ with at least one equivalent of an alkali metal salt of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in a reaction inert solvent in the presence of triphenylphosphine and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium to form a compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is hydrogen; and reacting a cationic salt of a formed compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is hydrogen with an organic chloride or bromide derivative of the radical R in a reaction inert solvent to form a compound of the formula (IV) wherein R⁴ is a silyl protecting group and R⁵ is a radical forming an ester. A process of claim 5 wherein R⁴ and R⁶ are each dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl, R¹⁰ is -CH₂CCl=CH₂ and R⁵ is pivaloyloxymethyl; or wherein R⁶ is dimethyl(t-butyl)-silyl, R⁴ is hydrogen and R⁵ and R¹⁰ are each -CH₂CCl=CH₂. A compound having the absolute stereochemical formula wherein R⁶ is a conventional silyl protecting group; R⁷ is hydrogen or R¹⁰ is and X is hydrogen or chloro. The compound of claim 7 wherein R⁶ is dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl and R⁷ is hydrogen or

Inventors: VOLKMANN ROBERT ALFRED, VOLKMANN, ROBERT ALFRED
Applicants: PFIZER, PFIZER INC.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: C07D499
IPC codes: C07D409, C07D333, C07D205, C07D499, C07D301, A61K31, C07D303, A61P31