Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for the stereocontrolled total synthesis of thienamycin, which synthesis proceeds via intermediate II: ##STR1## wherein R is a readily removable carboxyl protecting group; and ##STR2## is a readily removable acyl group.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a stereocontrolled total synthesis of the known antibiotic thienamycin (I). ##STR3## Starting from acetone dicarboxylate, the synthesis proceeds in a stereo-selective way via intermediate II: ##STR4## wherein R and ##STR5## are readily removable protecting groups; and wherein R and R&#39; are selected, inter alia, from: phenyl; benzyl; 1,1,1-trichloroethyl; methyl; ethyl; t-butyl; and the like. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The process of the present invention may conveniently be summarized by the following reaction diagram: ##STR6## 
     The foregoing scheme also embraces the following variations in the passage, see Diagram I above, from 24→→16: ##STR7## 
     In words relative to the above reaction diagram, the acetone dicarboxylate starting material 1 (R 1  is alkyl having from 1-6 carbon atoms, aryl, such as phenyl, or aralkyl having from 7-12 carbon atoms) in a solvent such as toluene, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, ether or the like is treated with an amine, NH 2  R (R is hydrogen; phenylalkyl having from 7-12 carbon atoms such as benzyl; 2,4-dimethoxybenzyl; alkyl having from 1-6 carbon atoms such as t-butyl, or the like) at a temperature of from -10° to 110° C. for from 0.5 to 24 hours. The above reaction mixture for the transformation 1→2 is conducted in the presence of a dehydrating agent such as sodium sulfate, molecular sieves, or the like. 
     The transformation 2→3 is accomplished by treating 2 in a solvent such as toluene, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, ether or the like with a stoichiometric to 100-fold excess of ketene, acetic anhydride, or acetyl halide such as acetyl chloride in the presence of a base such as a triorganoamine, for example, triethylamine, at a temperature of from -10° to 95° C. for from 10 minutes to 15 hours. 
     The transformation 3→4 is accomplished by treating 3 in a solvent such as acetic acid, ethanol, methanol or the like at a temperature of from 0° to 80° C. with a reducing agent such as sodium cyanoborohydride, sodium borohydride, sodium acetoxyborohydride, or the like in the presence of a carboxylic acid such as acetic, tartaric, oxalic or the like. 
     Cyclization of 4 to form the lactone 5 is accomplished by heating a solution of 4 in concentrated aqueous HCl at from 25° to 100° C. for from 2 hrs. to 12 hrs. 
     The amino deblocking transformation 5→5a is typically achieved by catalytic hydrogenation in a solvent such as acetic acid, water, or the like under a hydrogenation pressure of from 40-1500 psi in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst such as palladium on charcoal, palladium hydroxide, platinum oxide or the like. 
     The transformation 5a→5b is accomplished by treating 5a with an alcohol such as benzyl alcohol, 2,2,2-trichloroethanol, methanol or the like at a temperature of from 25°-100° C. for from 1 to 24 hours. The value of R 1  is determined by the alcohol R 1  OH utilized in the transformation 5a→5b. Suitable values for R 1  have generically been defined above relative to starting material 1. 
     The transformation 5b→5c is accomplished by treating 5b with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), or the like in the presence of a base such as triethylamine 4-dimethylaminopyridine, pyridine, or the like. 
     The transformation 24 (5c)→26 (or 26a) is accomplished by treating 24 with a triorganophosphine in the co-presence of an activating agent therefor such as an azodicarboxylate, keto malonate, triflate (trifluorosulfonyl) or the like to yield the intermediate phosphonium of 24 which is then reacted with an equivalent to 20 fold excess of a carboxylic acid such as formic (to obtain 26) acetic, benzoic, or the like. Typically, the azodicarboxylate or its equivalent is added to the solution comprising the β-lactam substrate, the triorganophosphine and the carboxylic acid of choice, R 4  CO 2  H. The reaction is typically conducted in a solvent such as toluene, ethylacetate, diethylether, methylene chloride or the like at a temperature of from -10°-50° C. for from 10 minutes to 12 hours. Suitable trioranophosphines are triphenylphosphine, and trialkylphosphines, wherein the alkyl group has from 1-6 carbon atoms, for example, tributylphosphine. Suitable activating agents include, for example, azodicarboxylates such as diethylazodicarboxylate, dibenzylazodicarboxylate and diisopropylazodicarboxylate; triflates and diloweralkyl keto malonates wherein the alkyl moiety has from 1-6 carbon atoms are also suitable. 
     The transformation 26→12 is accomplished by treating 26 in a solvent such as methanol, ethanol, or the like in the presence of an acid such as HCl, H 2  SO 4 , or a base such as sodium acetate or the like at a temperature of from -10° to 78° C. for from 10 min. to 12 hours. 
     Establishment of protecting group R 2  is accomplished by the transformation 12→13. Preferably 12 in a solvent such as dimethylformamide, ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, or the like is reacted with a reagent capable of establishing R 2 . Preferred protecting groups are triorganosilyls such as tertbutyldimethylsilyl, or the like. Typically, protecting groups R 2  are established by treating 12 in a solvent such as dimethylformamide, ethylacetate, methylene chloride, or the like in the presence of a base such as pyridine, triethylamine, or the like with a stoichiometric to 4-fold excess of tertbutyldimethylsilyl chloride at a temperature of from 25° to 70° C. for from 3 to 48 hours. 
     It should be noted that establishment of protecting group R 2  is optional; the chain elongation reaction 14→15 can efficiently be accomplished when R 2  =hydrogen. 
     The deblocking of the carboxyl group is accomplished in the transformation 13→14. Typically the deprotection is accomplished by catalytic hydrogenation. Typically, 13 and the solvent such as methanol, ethylacetate, ether, or the like under a hydrogen pressure of from 1 to 3 atmospheres in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst such as palladium on charcoal, platinum oxide, or the like is held at a temperature of from 0° to 40° C. for from 1 to 3 hours, to provide 14. Other deblocking procedures, such as hydrolysis, are also appropriate. Thus, for example, when R 1  is methyl, basic hydrolysis is preferred: Typically, this is accomplished by the addition of an equivalent amount of a base such as NaOH, KOH, Ba(OH) 2 , Na 2  CO 3 , or the like to an aqueous solution of 12 (for example, as the methyl ester) at 25°-100° C. for from 1.0 min. to 10 hours. 
     The addition 14→15 is accomplished by treating 14 with 1,1&#39;-carbonyldimidazole or the like in a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, dimethoxyethane, or the like at a temperature of from 0° to 50° C., followed by the addition of 1.1 to 3.0 equivalents of (R 3  O 2  CCH 2  CO 2 ) 2  Mg, or the like at a temperature of from 0° to 50° C. for from 1 to 48 hours. R 3  is a readily removable carboxyl protecting group such as p-nitrobenzyl, o-nitrobenzyl, benzyl or the like. 
     The removal of the protecting groups R 2  is accomplished by treating 15 in a solvent such as 10% aqueous methanol, tetrahydrofuran, or the like in the presence of hydrochloric acid, sulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, or the like at a temperature of 0° to 50° C. for from 10 minutes to 10 hours to provide intermediate 15a. 
     The diazotization reaction 15a→16 is accomplished by treating 15a in a solvent such as ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, toluene, or the like, with a diazotization reagent such as p-toluenesulfonyl azide, p-carboxybenzenesulfonyl azide or the like in the presence of a base such as pyridine, triethylamine, or the like at a temperature of from 0° to 40° C. for from 10 to 120 minutes. 
     Cyclization (16→17) is accomplished by treating 16 in a solvent such as benzene, toluene, THF or the like at a temperature of from 50°-110° C. for from 1-5 hours in the presence of a catalyst such as bis (acetylacetonato) Cu (II) [Cu(acac) 2  ], CuSO 4 , Cu powder, Rh 2  (OAc) 4 , or Pd(OAc) 2 . Alternatively, the cyclization may be accomplished by irradiating 16 through a pyrex filter (a wave length greater than 300 nm) in a solvent such as benzene, CCl 4 , diethylether or the like at a temperature of from 0°-25° C. for from 0.5 to 2 hours. [&#34;OAc&#34;=acetate]. 
     Establishment of leaving group X (17→18) is accomplished by reacting the keto ester 17 with R°X such as p-toluenesulfonic acid anhydride, p-nitrophenylsulfonic acid anhydride, 2,4,6-triisopropylphenylsulfonic acid anhydride, methanesulfonic acid anhydride, toluenesulfonyl chloride, p-bromophenylsulfonyl chloride, or the like; wherein: X is the corresponding leaving group such as toluene sulfonyloxy, p-nitrophenylsulfonyloxy, methanesulfonyloxy, p-bromophenylsulfonyloxy; or other leaving groups which are established by conventional procedures and are well known in the art. Typically, the above reaction to establish leaving groups X is conducted in a solvent such as methylene chloride, acetonitrile or dimethylformamide, in the presence of a base such as diisopropylethylamine, triethylamine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine or the like at a temperature of from -20° to 40° C. for from 0.5 to 5 hours. The leaving group X of intermediate 18 can also be halogen. The halogen leaving group is established by treating 17 with a halogenating agent such as φ 3  PCl 2 , φ 3  PBr 2 , (φO) 3  PBr 2 , oxalyl chloride or the like in a solvent such as CH 2  Cl 2 , CH 3  CN, THF, or the like in the presence of a base such as diisopropylethylamine, triethylamine, or 4-dimethylaminopyridine or the like. [φ=phenyl.] 
     The leaving group X can also be a phosphate. It is typically prepared by treating 17 with diethyl chlorophosphate or the like in the presence of a base such as diisopropylethylamine, triethylamine, or 4-dimethylaminopyridine or the like. 
     The leaving group X can also be a carbonate. It is prepared by treating 17 with a chloroformate such as methyl, benzyl, p-nitrobenzyl or the like in the presence of a base such as diisopropylethylamine, triethylamine, or 4-dimethylaminopyridine or the like. 
     The leaving group X can also be an imino ester: ##STR8## It is prepared by treating 17 with an imidoyl chloride such as N-phenyl trimethylacetimido chloride in the presence of a base such as diisopropylethylamine, triethylamine, or 4-dimethylaminopyridine or the like. 
     The reaction 18→19 is accomplished by treating 18 in a solvent such as dioxane, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile, hexamethylphosphoramide, or the like in the presence of an approximately equivalent to excess of the mercaptan reagent HSCH 2  CH 2  NHR 4  wherein R 4  is hydrogen or a readily removable N-protecting group such as p-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, o-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, formimidoyl, phenoxyacetyl, phenylacetyl, 2-methyl-2-(o-nitrophenoxy)propionic, and o-nitrophenoxyacetic, or the like in the presence of a base such as sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine, or the like at a temperature of from -40° to 25° C. for from 1 to 72 hours. The mercaptan reagent, HSCH 2  CH 2  NHR 4 , is typically prepared by treating aminoethylmercaptan in the presence of the desired acid chloride in the presence of a base such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, or the like in a solvent such as aqueous diethylether, aqueous dioxane, aqueous acetone, or the like at a temperature of from 0° to 25° C. for from 0.5 to 4 hours. 
     The final deblocking step 19→I is accomplished by conventional procedures such as hydrolysis or hydrogenation, or enzymatically. Typically 20 in a solvent such as dioxane-water-ethanol; tetrahydrofuranaqueous dipotassium hydrogen phosphate-isopropanol; tetrahydrofuran-water-morpholinopropane-sulfonic acid (adjusted pH to 7.0 by adding sodium hydroxide); or the like is treated under a hydrogen pressure of from 1 to 4 atmospheres in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst such as palladium on charcoal, palladium hydroxide, platinum oxide, or the like at a temperature of from 0° to 50° C. for from 0.5 to 4 hours to provide I. 
     In words relative to Diagram II, the N-protection of 26 to form 29 is accomplished exactly as described above for the transformation 12→13. 
     The carboxyl deblocking 29→30 is accomplished by catalytic hydrogenation typically in a solvent such as methanol, ethylacetate, ether or the like under a hydrogen pressure of from 1 to 3 atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst such as palladium on charcoal, platinum oxide or the like at a temperature of from 0°-40° C. for from 1 to 3 hours. 
     The transformation 30→31 is accomplished in a manner identical to previously discussed transformation 14→15, and the transformation 31→15a is accomplished in a manner identical to previously discussed transformation 15→15a. 
     In words relative to Diagram III, the carboxyl deprotecting step 26→27 is accomplished by the procedure just described for the transformation 29→30. 
     The transformation 27→28→15a is accomplished in a manner previously discussed (30→31→15a). 
     In words relative to Diagram IV, transformation of 24→26a has previously been discussed under Diagram I. The generalized identity of R 4  is also discussed under Diagram I. 
     The transformation 26a→26b (also 12→26b) is typically accomplished by basic hydrolysis; the addition of an equivalent amount of a base such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, palladium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or the like to an aqueous/alcoholic solution of 26a (or 12) at 25°-100° C. for from 1 minute to 10 hours. 
     Conversion of 26b to 15a is accomplished by first converting 26b to an activated derivative such as acylimidazole by reaction with 1,1&#39;-dicarbonyldiimidazole in a solvent such as CH 2  Cl 2 , dimethylformamide, ether, acetonitrile or the like at a temperature of from 0° to 40° C. for from 10-60 minutes. The solution containing the activated derivative is then treated with a stoichiometric to 10-fold excess of the magnesium salt of the previously identified malonic half-ester at a temperature of from 25°-80° C. for from 1 hour to 24 hours. In other words, the transformation is as generally described above for 14→15. 
     It should be noted (Diagram I, above) that intermediate 5a is racemic. Resolution at this stage to the desired 2S,3S,4R-isomer affords optically pure thienamycin on completion of the synthesis. Resolution of 5a (or its protected intermediate 5) is conveniently accomplished by crystallization with an optically active acid. The preferred means of resolution is accomplished on crystallization with camphorsulfonic acid, (-) or (+) phenethylsulfonic acid and (-) or (+) α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid, or the like. Such resolution is described and claimed in concurrently filed, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 112,020 filed Jan. 14, 1980; this application is incorporated herein by reference to the extent that it describes the resolution of 5a. 
     In the foregoing word description of the above schematic reaction diagram for the total synthesis of thienamycin, it is to be understood that there is considerable latitude in selection of precise reaction parameters. Suggestion of this latitude and its breadth is generally indicated by the enumeration of equivalent solvent systems, temperature ranges, protecting groups, and range of identities of involved reagents. Further, it is to be understood that the presentation of the synthetic scheme as comprising distinct steps in a given sequence is more in the nature of a descriptive convenience than as a necessary requirement; for one will recognize that the mechanically dissected scheme represents a unified scheme of synthesis and that certain steps, in actual practice, are capable of being merged, conducted simultaneously, or effected in a reverse sequence without materially altering the progress of synthesis. 
    
    
     The following examples recite a precise scheme of total synthesis. It is to be understood that the purpose of this recitation is to further illustrate the total synthesis and not to impose any limitation. All temperatures are in °C. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     3-Benzylamino-2-pentenedioic acid diethyl ester (2) ##STR9## 
     Benzylamine (89.1 g, 0.83 moles) is added over 10 minutes to a suspension of 5A powdered molecular sieves (270 g) and diethyl 1,3-acetonedicarboxylate (160 g) (0.79 moles) in 350 ml toluene (external cooling applied to control exotherm). The suspension is stirred at room temperature for 14-17 hours and then filtered to provide 2. The filter cake is washed with three portions of toluene. The combined filtrates may be used as is in the subsequent ketene reaction. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     2-Acetyl-3-benzylamino-2-pentenedioic acid diethyl ester (3) ##STR10## 
     Ketene gas (generated by pyrolysis of acetone) is passed through the stirred solution of 2 (see Example 1, above) at 22° C. When starting material 2 is completely consumed (followed by TLC-solvent system 1:1 hexane/EtOAc), the solution is concentrated to give the product as a tan solid. 
     Yield=270.2 g (103%, purity by NMR ca 90%). 
     Recrystallization from ethanol affords the pure product 3 as colorless needles, mp 87°-8° C. 
     
         ______________________________________Elem. anal.      Calc.    Found______________________________________C.sub.18 H.sub.23 NO.sub.5         C      64.85%   64.90%         H      6.95     7.06         N      4.20     3.94______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 3 
     (2SR, 3RS)-2-[1(SR)-hydroxyethyl]-3-(benzylamino)pentanedioic acid diethyl ester 4 ##STR11## 
     A solution of the enamine 3 (83.3 g, 0.25 mmoles) in 400 ml HOAc (acetic acid) is chilled to ca. 10° C. and sodium cyanoborohydride (20.9 g, 0.33 moles) is added as a solid portionwise over 15-30 minutes. The cooling bath is removed and the solution stirred at room temperature (22° C.) for 3.5 hours. The solution is concentrated in vacuo and the residue flushed with toluene to remove most of the acetic acid. The residue is partitioned between 400 ml EtOAc (ethyl acetate) and 300 ml saturated aqueous NaHCO 3 . The organic layer is washed with another 300 ml portion of aqueous NaHCO 3 . The combined aqueous layers are back-extracted with 200 ml EtOAc. The organic layers are dried (Na 2  SO 4 ) and concentrated in vacuo to give 4 as a colorless gum, 100 g. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     Tetrahydro-2α-methyl-6-oxo-4β-benzylamino-2H-pyran-3α-carboxylic acid hydrochloride 5 ##STR12## 
     The crude amino alcohol 4 (110 g) is cautiously dissolved in 900 ml concentrated aqueous HCl. The solution is heated to reflux and 80-100 ml of distillate is collected (discarded) during the first hour of reflux. After a 3 hr. reflux period the solution is cooled to 0° for 45 min and filtered. The solid is washed with three portions of 40% EtOH in isopropanol and dried in vacuo to constant weight to yield 5: 24-30 g of white crystalline solid; mp 160°-170° (dec). 
     
         ______________________________________Elem. Anal.        Calcd.  Found______________________________________C.sub.14 H.sub.18 ClNO.sub.4 . H.sub.2 O            C     52.91   52.79            H     6.34    6.41            Cl    11.16   11.00            N     4.41    4.51______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 4a 
     Tetrahydro-2α-methyl-6-oxo-4β-benzylamino-2H-pyran-3α-carboxylic acid ethyl ester hydrochloride 5 ##STR13## 
     A similar batch of crude amino alcohol 4 (101.7 g) in 900 ml CH 2  Cl 2  is treated with HCl gas (subsurface introduction) for 1 hour. The saturated solution (or suspension) is stirred at room temperature for another 2 hours. Ether (800 ml) is added to the suspension and cooled to 0° for 1 hr. The solid is collected, washed with two cold portions of CH 2  Cl 2  and dried in vacuo to yield 5: 
     Yield: 26.6 g (35% from diethyl 1,3-acetonedicarboxylate) mp 181°-7° (dec). 
     
         ______________________________________Elem. Anal.      Calcd   Found______________________________________C.sub.16 H.sub.22 ClNO.sub.4          C     58.62   58.95          H     6.77    6.79          Cl    10.82   10.94          N     4.27    4.69______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 5 
     (3SR, 4RS)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3-[1(RS)-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyethyl]-2-oxo-4-azetidineacetic acid benzyl ester 11 ##STR14## 
     Triethylamine (0.937 g, 9.28 mmole) in 3 ml DMF (sieve-dried) is added to the β-lactam (1.056 g, 4.01 mmol) in 15 ml DMF at room temperature. The solution is chilled to 0° and tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (1.39 g, 9.28 mmole) is added as a solid in 3 portions over 5 minutes. The suspension is aged at 0° for 15 minutes then at room temperature for 19 hours. The orange-brown suspension is diluted with H 2  O and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer is washed with H 2  O, brine, dried and concentrated to give the product 11 as a colorless gum (2.0 g) that solidifies on standing. 
     EXAMPLE 6 
     (3SR, 4RS)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3-[1(RS)-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyethyl]-2-oxo-4-azetidineacetic acid 12 ##STR15## 
     A suspension of the crude benzyl ester 11 (2.00 g, 4.01 mmole) and 1/2 g 10% Pd/C in 40 ml. MeOH is pressurized (40 psi) with H 2  and shaken for 75 minutes. The suspension is filtered and the filtrate is concentrated in vacuo to give the product 12 as a white solid, 1.60 g. 
     Analytical sample from EtOAc as white needles, m.p. 168°-9° 
     
         ______________________________________Calcd. for        Calculated                     Found______________________________________C.sub.19 H.sub.39 NO.sub.4 Si.sub.2                 56.81   56.95           H     9.79    9.98           N     3.49    3.45           Si    13.98   did not                         analyze                         properly______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 7 
     (3SR, 4RS)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3-[1(RS)-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyethyl]-β,2-dioxo-4-azetidinebutanoic acid p-nitrobenzyl ester 13 ##STR16## 
     To a solution of the β-lactam 12 (1.46 g., 3.62 mmole) in 30 ml. CH 2  Cl 2  at room temperature is added 1,1&#39;-carbonyldiimidazole (0.64 g., 3.95 mmole). After stirring for 30 minutes the solution is treated with 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (0.78 g., 5.43 mmole) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (0.66 g., 5.43 mmole) and the solution aged at room temperature for another 70 hours. The solution is washed with 1 N aqueous HCl followed by H 2  O and then dried with Na 2  SO 4  and concentrated. The residue is dissolved in 20 ml. MeCN, p-nitrobenzyl alcohol (0.94 g., 6.15 mmole) is added, and the solution is heated to reflux for 1 hour. The reaction mixture is concentrated to a gummy solid. The pure product 13 is isolated by crystallization from isopropanol; or by chromatography on silica gel (eluent, hexane-EtOAc, 7/3). 
     Analytical sample from 1/1 hexane/Et 2  O, colorless needles, m.p. 113.5°-115°. 
     
         ______________________________________Calcd. for        Calcd.  Found______________________________________C.sub.28 H.sub.46 N.sub.2 O.sub.7 Si.sub.2           C     58.09   58.31           H     8.01    8.25           N     4.84    4.76           Si    9.70    did not                         analyze                         properly______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 8 
     (3SR, 4RS)-3-(1(RS)-hydroxyethyl)-β,2-dioxo-4-azetidinebutanoic acid p-nitrobenzyl ester ##STR17## 
     Concentrated aqueous HCl (0.45 ml) is added to a suspension of the silyl derivative (0.63 g., 1.09 mmole) in 30 ml. of 10% aqueous MeOH. After stirring at room temperature for 6 hours, the solution is concentrated almost to dryness. The residue containing 14 is partitioned between H 2  O and CH 2  Cl 2 . The organic layer is dried (MgSO 4 ) and concentrated to a colorless gum, 0.40 g. The crude product is used as is in the next step. 
     Analytical sample from hexane/EtOAc, m.p. 97°-9°. 
     
         ______________________________________Calcd. for       Calcd.  Found______________________________________C.sub.16 H.sub.18 N.sub.2 O.sub.7          C     54.85   55.02          H     5.18    5.38          N     8.00    7.79______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 9 
     [3SR, 4RS)-α-diazo-3-[1(RS)-hydroxyethyl]-β,2-dioxo-4-azetidinebutanoic acid p-nitrobenzyl ester 15 ##STR18## 
     A solution of the crude β-keto ester 14 (0.83 g., 2.37 mmole) and p-toluenesulfonyl azide (0.56 g, 2.85 mmole) in 10 ml EtOAc at room temperature is treated with a solution of NEt 3  (0.31 g., 3.08 mmole) in 2 ml. EtOAc. The resulting suspension is stirred for 1 hr., chilled to 0° and filtered. The product 15 (0.77 g) is analytically pure, m.p. 160.5°-2° (dec.). 
     
         ______________________________________Elem. Anal.      Calcd.  Found______________________________________C.sub.16 H.sub.16 N.sub.4 O.sub.7          C     51.06   51.04          H     4.29    4.22          N     14.89   14.76______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 10 
     (5RS,6SR)-6-[(RS)-1-hydroxyethyl]-3,7-dioxo-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylic acid p-nitrobenzyl ester ##STR19## 
     A stirred suspension of the diazo compound 15 (500 mg, 1.33 mmole) and rhodium diacetate (15 mg) in dry toluene (35 ml) is heated to 80°-5° for 2.5 hours. After filtration of the catalyst, the solution is concentrated in vacuo to give the product as a white solid, mp 92°-8°. 
     EXAMPLE 11 
     (5RS,6SR)-6-[(RS)-1-hydroxyethyl]-3-[2-(p-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl)aminoethylthio]-7-oxo-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid p-nitrobenzyl ester ##STR20## 
     PROCEDURE A: Trifluoromethylsulfonyl Activation 
     To a stirred suspension of the bicyclic ketone 16 (100 mg, 0.287 mmole) in dry methylene chloride (1 ml) is added dropwise a solution of diisopropylethylamine (62 mg, 0.481 mmole) in dry CH 2  Cl 2  (0.4 ml) at 0° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting mixture is aged for 15 min. then trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (90 mg, 0.319 mmole) is added to give a clear solution. To the mixture is added a solution of diisopropylethylamine (250 mg, 1.94 mmole) in CH 2  Cl 2  (0.3 ml) followed by N-p-nitrobenzyloxycarbonylcysteamine (77 mg, 0.30 mmole) as a solid at 0° C. The mixture is stirred for 30 min during which time the product crystallizes as a colorless solid. The solid is collected by filtration and washed with CH 2  Cl 2 . An additional crop of product is obtained by washing the filtrate with dilute aqueous NaHCO 3 . The organic layer is dried with Na 2  SO 4  and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is crystallized from EtOAC. The combined yield is 108 mg (64%) of product 17. 
     PROCEDURE B: Tosylate Activation 
     To a suspension of the bicyclic ketone 16 (50 mg, 0.144 mmole) in acetonitrile (3 ml) is added dropwise a solution of diisopropylethylamine (22 mg, 0.171 mmole) in 1 ml CH 3  CN at -5° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere. After aging at this temperature for 10 min, a solution of p-toluene sulfonic anhydride (51 mg, 0.156 mmole) in 1 ml CH 3  CN is added. The resulting mixture is stirred for 2 hr. at 0° C. The solution is concentrated in vacuo to a volume of approximately 1 ml and then 3 ml of dry N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) is added and the remaining CH 3  CN removed in vacuo. To the DMF solution at -5° C. is added a solution of diisopropylethylamine (40 mg, 0.31 mmole) in 0.5 ml DMF and the resulting mixture stored in a refrigerator for 70 hrs. The solution is diluted with brine and extracted with five portions of CH 2  Cl 2 . The combined extracts are washed with brine, dried over Na 4  SO 4 , and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is crystallized from an ethylacetate-ether mixture to give the product 17 as a colorless solid, 68 mg (81%). 
     PROCEDURE C: Phosphate activation 
     To a suspension of the bicyclic ketone 16 (100 mg, 0.29 mmole) in CH 3  CN (1 ml) is added dropwise a solution of diisopropylethylamine (37 mg, 0.29 mmole) in 0.4 ml CH 3  CN at 0° under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting mixture is stirred for 15 min then a solution of diphenyl chlorophosphate (77 mg, 0.29 mmole) in 0.4 ml CH 3  CN is added. The mixture is stirred for 15 min at 0° and then 15 min at room temperature. The mixture is again cooled to 0° and a solution of diisopropylethylamine (38.7 mg, 0.30 mmole) in 0.4 ml CH 3  CN is added followed by N-p-nitrobenzyloxycarbonylcysteamine (77 mg, 0.30 mmole). The reaction mixture is stored overnight in a freezer, diluted with EtOAC, and filtered to give the product 17 as a colorless solid, 118 mg (70%). 
     EXAMPLE 12 
     Thienamycin ##STR21## 
     A mixture of the protected thienamycin 17 (4.9 mg, 8.362×10 -6  mole) and platinum oxide (3.4 mg) in tetrahydrofuran (2 ml), water (1 ml) and 0.5 M morpholinopropane sulfonic acid (adjusted to pH 7.0 by adding sodium hydroxide) (0.5 ml) is hydrogenated at 40 psi on a Parr shaker for 60 minutes. The suspension is filtered to remove catalyst and the catalyst is washed with water (2×20 ml). The filtrate was washed with EtOAC (2×15 ml). The aqueous layer is diluted to 50 ml and assayed for thienamycin. UVλ max  =298 mm HPLC assay 81.4% yield, retention time=298 sec., natural thienamycin 298 sec. 
     EXAMPLE 13 
     Tetrahydro-2α-methyl-6-oxo-4β-amino-2H-pyran-3α-carboxylic acid hydrochloride ##STR22## 
     A suspension of the benzyl lactone (5.00 g 0.0167 moles) and 1.0 g of 10% Pd/C in 200 ml acetic acid is pressurized to 1500 psi with hydrogen. The mixture is agitated at room temperature for 3 days, vented, and filtered. The recovered catalyst is washed with 2 portions (ca. 15 ml) of HOAc. The combined filtrates are concentrated in vacuo. Yield=4.00 g (114%) of white, foamy gum containing residual acetic acid. 
     Analytical sample prepared by crystallization from an acetic acid-acetonitrile-toluene mixture, mp 160°-5° (dec). 
     
         ______________________________________Elem. Anal.      Calcd.  Found______________________________________C.sub.7 H.sub.12 ClNO.sub.4          C     40.10   40.05          H     5.77    5.90          N     6.68    6.93          Cl    16.91   16.97______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 14 
     (2Sr, 3RS)-3-amino-2[1(SR)-hydroxyethyl]pentanedioic acid 5-benzyl ester hydrochloride ##STR23## 
     The crude amino acid (2.90 g, ca. 12.1 mmole) is dissolved in 40 ml. of benzyl alcohol and heated to 70°-75° for 1 day. The solution is diluted with toluene (70 ml) and the product extracted with 2 portions (20 ml each) H 2  O. The combined aqueous layers are washed with toluene (40 ml) and concentrated in vacuo, to give 3.10 g of crude product as a foamy gum. 
     This crude material can be used as is for the next step. Alternatively, pure, crystalline material can be obtained as follows: 
     Acetonitrile (40 ml) is added to 2.61 g of the crude amino acid and the mixture is stirred until the gum is all transformed to white solid (1-2 hrs.). The suspension is cooled to 0°, filtered, and washed with isopropyl alcohol. 
     Yield=1.90 g white powder (59% yield from benzyl lacteone). 
     
         ______________________________________Elem. Anal.      Calcd.  FoundC.sub.14 H.sub.20 ClNO.sub.5          C     52.91   52.80          H     6.34    6.54          Cl    11.16   11.00          N     4.41    4.33______________________________________ 
    
     The combined filtrates containing additional product and unreacted lactone can be concentrated and recycled. 
     EXAMPLE 15 (3SR, 4RS)-3-[1(SR)-hydroxyethyl]-2-oxo-4-azetidineacetic acid benzyl ester ##STR24## 
     Triethylamine (5.24 g, 51.9 mmol) is added to a suspension of the pure amino acid (16.00 g, 50.3 mmol) in 200 ml acetonitrile at room temperature. The mixture is aged for 5 minutes, then N,N&#39;-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (10.88 g, 52.8 mmol) is added as a solid. After aging at room temperature for 10 minutes, the suspension is heated to 60° for 3 hours and then concentrated. The residue is slurried in cold EtOAc and filtered to remove the urea. The filtrate is washed successively with 2 N HCl, H 2  O, satd. NaHCO 3  (these extracts are all back-extracted with EtOAc), and brine, dried (MgSO 4 ) and concentrated. The crude product (13.2 g) is pure enough (the only impurity is about 5% of the cyclohexylurea) to use in the subsequent steps, however, analytically pure material may be prepared either by crystallization from diethyl ether or chromatography on silica gel (eluent, 20% hexane-EtOAc), mp 67.5°-68.5°. 
     
         ______________________________________Elem. Anal       Calcd   Found______________________________________        C   63.86   63.86        H   6.51    6.56        N   5.32    5.43______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 16 
     (3Sr, 4RS)-3-[1(RS)-formyloxyethyl]-2-oxo-4-azetidineacetic acid benzyl ester ##STR25## 
     To a cold (0°) solution for the β-lactam (1.04 g, 3.96 mmoles), triphenylphosphine (1.31 g, 5.00 mmoles), and 98-100% formic acid (0.547 g, 11.9 mmole) in 12 ml dry tetrahydrofuran is added diethyl azodicarboxylate (0.871 g, 5.00 mmoles) dropwise over 1 minute. The solution is aged at 0° for 15 minutes then at room temperature for 3 hours. The reaction mixture is concentrated and chromatographed on silica gel (75 g). The product, which elutes with 30% ethylacetate/hexane, is a colorless gum that crystallizes on standing (0.92 g). 
     EXAMPLE 17 
     (3SR, 4RS)-3-[1(RS)-hydroxyethyl]-2-oxo-4-azetidineacetic acid benzyl ester ##STR26## 
     A solution of the formate ester (0.90 g, 3.09 mmole) and sodium acetate trihydrate (2.72 g, 20 mmoles) in 40 ml MeOH is aged at room temperature for 2 hours. The soluton is concentrated almost to dryness and the residue is partitioned between EtOAc and H 2  O. The organic layer is dried (MgSO 4 ) and concentrated to give the product as a white solid (0.77 g). 
     EXAMPLE 18 
     (3SR, 4RS)-3-[(RS)-1-formyloxyethyl]-2-oxo-4-azetidineacetic acid ##STR27## 
     A mixture of the benzyl ester (134 mg, 0.46 mmol) and 25 mg of 10% Pd/C in 1.5 ml of isopropanol is shaken at room temperature under 40 psi of hydrogen for 120 minutes. The suspension is filtered and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo to afford the acid (83 mg) as a white solid. 
     EXAMPLE 19 
     (3SR, 4RS)-3-[(RS)-1-hydroxyethyl]-β,2-dioxo-4-azetidinebutanoic acid p-nitrobenzyl ester ##STR28## 
     Concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid (0.10 ml) is added to a solution of the formate (30 mg, 0.079 mmol) in 2 ml of 10% aqueous methanol. The solution is aged at room temperature for 1 hr and then diluted with water and extracted with three portions of CH 2  Cl 2 . Concentration of the organic layers after drying over Na 2  SO 4  gives the product as a pale yellow gum (25 mg) which crystallizes upon standing. 
     EXAMPLE 20 
     (3SR, 4RS)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3-[(RS)-1-formyloxyethyl]-2-oxo-4-azetidineacetic acid ##STR29## 
     A mixture of the benzyl ester (420 mg, 1.03 mmol) and 60 mg of 10% Pd/C in 3 ml isopropanol was shaken at room temperature under a hydrogen atmosphere (40 psi) for 2 hours. The catalyst is removed by filtration and the filtrate concentrated to give the acid as a white solid, 293 mg. 
     Recrystallization from hexane-ethylacetate gives the pure product as white needles, mp 109°-110.5°. 
     EXAMPLE 21 
     (3SR, 4RS)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3-[(RS)-1-formyloxyethyl]-2-oxo-4-azetidineacetic acid benzyl ester ##STR30## 
     To a solution of the β-lactam (316 mg, 1.09 mmole) and triethylamine (126 mg, 1.25 mmole) in 4 ml of dry dimethylformamide is added tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (187 mg, 1.25 mmole) as a solid. The suspension is stirred at room temperature for 1 day. The suspension is diluted with water and the product extracted with EtOAc. The organic solution is dried over Na 2  SO 4  and concentrated to give the product as a yellow oil, 420 mg. 
     EXAMPLE 21a ##STR31## 
     A crude sample containing the silyl formate (69 mg, 0.14 mmole) and 64 mg of p-nitrobenzyl alcohol in 9 ml 10% aqueous MeOH at room temperature is treated with 0.15 ml concentrated HCl. After aging for 3 hours the solution is concentrated almost to dryness, diluted with water, and the product is extracted with three portions of CH 2  Cl 2 . The organic extracts are dried over Na 2  SO 4  and concentrated to give the crude product as a pale yellow solid, 91 mg. The pure product is obtained by chromatography on silica gel and elution with EtOAc. 
     EXAMPLE 22 
     (3SR, 4RS)-3-[(RS)-1-formyloxyethyl]-β,2-dioxo-4-azetidinebutanoic acid p-nitrobenzyl ester ##STR32## 
     A suspension of the β-lactam acid (78 mg, 0.388 mmole) in 3 ml CH 2  Cl 2  at room temperature is treated with 1,1&#39;-carbonyldiimidazole (66.5 mg, 0.41 mmole). The resulting solution is aged for 25 min. and then treated with a solid mixture of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (84 mg, 0.58 mmole) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (71 mg, 0.58 mmole). The green solution is aged for another 40 hours then it is diluted with CH 2  Cl 2  and washed successively with dilute HCl, H 2  O, saturated aq. NaHCO 3 , and brine. The organic solution is dried over Na 2  SO 4  and concentrated to a yellow gum. A solution of this gum and p-nitrobenzyl alcohol (100 mg, 0.65 mmole) in 3 ml MeCN is refluxed for 75 minutes and then concentrated in vacuo to a yellow solid which is chromatographed on a 2000 micron silica gel plate (8:2 EtOAc:hexane, R f  =0.30) to give the product as a pale-yellow gum. 
     EXAMPLE 23 
     (3SR, 4RS)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3-[(RS)-1-formyloxyethyl]-2-oxo-4-azetidineacetic acid ##STR33## 
     A solution of the β-lactam acid (101 mg, 0.321 mmol) in 3 ml CH 2  Cl 2  at room temperature is treated with 1,1&#39;-carbonyldiimidazole (57 mg, 0.353 mmole) and aged for 30 min. Then a mixture of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (69 mg, 0.481 mmole) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (59 mg, 0.481 mmole) is added and the solution aged for 3 days. The solution is diluted with EtOAc and washed with dilute HCl, then water, dried over Na 2  SO 4  and concentrated to a yellow oil. This oil and p-nitrobenzyl alcohol (106 mg, 0.695 mmole) in 3 ml MeCN is refluxed for 70 minutes and then concentrated to a gummy solid which is chromatographed on a 2000 micron silica gel plate (6:4 EtOAc:hexane, R f  =0.50) to give the β-keto ester contaminated with 75 mole % of p-nitrobenzyl alcohol, total weight=133 mg. 
     EXAMPLE 24 ##STR34## 
     A mixture of the β-lactam (2.50 g, 9.49 mmoles) and 0.5 g of 10% Pd/C in 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran is hydrogenated at 40 psi on a Parr shaker for 2 hours. The suspension is filtered and to the filtrate is added 1,1&#39;-carbonyldiimidazole (1.61 g, 9.93 mmoles) as a solid and the solution is aged at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere for 3 hours. To this solution is added the magnesium salt of p-nitrobenzyl hydrogen filtrate (4.97 g, 9.93 mmole) and the resulting solution which soon becomes a suspension is stirred at room temperature for 20 hours. The suspension is concentrated in vacuo and the residue in CH 2  Cl 2  is washed with dilute aqueous HCl followed by aqueous NaHCO 3 . Each aqueous extract is back-washed with CH 2  Cl 2 . The combined organic layers are dried and concentrated in vacuo to give the product as a pale-yellow gum, 2.92 g. Purification is effected by chromatography on silica gel, eluting with EtOAc. 
     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The following concurrently filed, commonly assigned U.S. Patent Applications are similarly directed to totally synthetic schemes for the preparation of thienamycin and in that respect complement the disclosure of the present application; consequently, these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     1. U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 112,058 filed Jan. 14, 1980. 
     2. U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 112,02 filed Jan. 14, 1980. 
     3. U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 112,021 filed Jan. 14, 1980. 
     4. U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 112,057 filed Jan. 14, 1980. 
     5. U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 112,022 filed Jan. 14, 1980.