Abstract:
A process for photochemically converting 3-exomethylene cephams (or 1-carba(1-dethia)cephams or and 1-oxa(1-dethia)cephams) from the corresponding 3-alkyl-3-cephem (or 1-carba(1-dethia)cephem or 1-oxa(1-dethia)cephem) is provided. Further provided are 3-cephams useful as intermediates to 3-cephem compounds.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention belongs generally to the field of β-lactam antibiotics; more particularly, it relates to a process whereby a 3-methyl cephem, 1-carba(1-dethia)cephem, or 1-oxa(1-dethia)cephem is photochemically converted to the corresponding 3-exo-methylene derivative. Such derivatives provide a useful functionality in the 3-position for further derivatization. For example, the 3-exomethylene cepham may be ozonized to provide the 3-(keto)-enol, which, in turn, may be halogenated to form 3-halo cephems [see, for example, S. Kukolja and R. R. Chauvette in &#34;Chemistry and Biology of β-lactam Antibiotics&#34;, R. B. Morin and M. Gorman, Eds., Vol. I, Ch. 2, pp. 93-198, Academic Press (1982)]. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a process whereby a 3-methyl cephem, 3-methyl 1-carba(1-dethia)cephem, or 1-oxa(1-dethia)cephem is photochemically converted to the corresponding 3-exomethylene derivative. As an example of the invention, an acetonitrile solution of methyl 7β-acetylamino-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate is subjected to ultraviolet radiation of about 2537 Å to provide methyl 7β-acetylamino-3-methenylcepham-4-carboxylate. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention provides a process for preparing a compound of Formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is an amino-protecting group, X is --CH 2  --, O or ##STR2## wherein n is 0, 1 or 2; R 1  is a carboxy-protecting group; and R 2  is hydrogen, C 1  -C 6  alkyl, C 2  -C 6  alkenyl, C 2  -C 6  alkynyl, C 1  -C 6  substituted alkyl, C 2  -C 6  substituted alkenyl, C 2  -C 6  substituted alkynyl, C 1  -C 6  alkoxy, C 1  -C 6  alkylthio, C 2  -C 6  alkenyloxy, C 2  -C 6  alkenylthio, C 2  -C 6  alkynyloxy, C 2  -C 6  alkynylthio, C 1  -C 6  substituted alkoxy, C 1  -C 6  substituted alkylthio, C 2  -C 6  substituted alkenyloxy, C 2  -C 6  substituted alkenylthio, C 2  -C 6  substituted alkynyloxy, and C 2  -C 6  substituted alkynylthio; which comprises subjecting a compound of Formula (II) ##STR3## to ultraviolet radiation, wherein R, R 1  and R 2  are as defined above. 
     The term &#34;amino-protecting group&#34; as used in the specification refers to substituents of the amino group commonly employed to block or protect the amino functionality while reacting other functional groups on the compound. Examples of such amino-protecting groups include the formyl group, the trityl group, phenoxyacetyl, benzoyl, substituted benzoyl, such as methylbenzoyl, chlorobenzoyl, nitrobenzoyl, and the like, trimethylsilyl, the acetyl group, the phthalimido group, the trichloroacetyl group, the chloroacetyl, bromoacetyl and iodoacetyl groups, urethane-type blocking groups such as benzyloxycarbonyl, 4-phenylbenzyloxycarbonyl, 2-methylbenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-fluorobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl, 3-chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl, 2-chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl, 2,4-dichlorobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-bromobenzyloxycarbonyl, 3-bromobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-cyanobenzyloxycarbonyl, 1,1-diphenyleth-1-yloxycarbonyl, 1,1-diphenylprop-1-yloxycarbonyl, 2-phenylprop-2-yloxycarbonyl, 2-(p-toluyl)prop-2-yloxycarbonyl, cyclopentanyloxycarbonyl, 1-methylcyclopentanyloxycarbonyl, cyclohexanyloxycarbonyl, 1-methylcyclohexanyloxycarbonyl, 2-methylcyclohexanyloxycarbonyl, 2-(4-toluylsulfonyl)ethoxycarbonyl, 2-(methylsulfonyl)ethoxycarbonyl, 2-(triphenylphosphino)ethoxycarbonyl, 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (&#34;FMOC&#34;), 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl, 1-(trimethylsilylmethyl)prop-1-enyloxycarbonyl, 5-benzisoxalylmethoxycarbonyl, 4-acetoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, 2-ethynyl-2-propoxycarbonyl, cyclopropylmethoxycarbonyl, 4-(decyloxy)benzyloxycarbonyl, isobornyloxycarbonyl, 1-piperidyloxycarbonyl, and the like; the benzoylmethylsulfonyl group, the 2-(nitro)phenylsulfenyl group, the diphenylphosphine oxide group, and like amino-protecting groups. The species of amino-protecting group employed is not critical so long as the derivatized amino group is stable to the process herein and can be removed without disrupting the remainder of the molecule. Preferred amino-protecting groups are the allyloxycarbonyl, the acetyl, t-butoxycarbonyl, and the trityl groups. Typical amino-protecting groups used in the cephalosporin, penicillin and peptide art are also embraced by the above terms. Further examples of groups referred to by the above terms are described by J. W. Barton, &#34;Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry&#34;, J. G. W. McOmie, Ed., Plenum Press, New York, NY,  1973, Chapter 2, and T. W. Greene, &#34;Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis&#34;, John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY, 1981, Chapter 7. The related term &#34;protected amino&#34; defines an amino group substituted with an amino-protecting group discussed above. 
     The term &#34;carboxy-protecting group&#34; as used herein refers to one of the ester derivatives of the carboxylic acid group commonly employed to block or protect the carboxylic acid group while reactions are carried out on other functional groups on the compound. Examples of such carboxylic acid protecting groups include methyl, trimethylsilylethyl, 4-nitrobenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl, 2,4-dimethoxybenzyl, 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzyl, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl, pentamethylbenzyl 3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl, benzhydryl, 4,4&#39;-dimethoxybenzhydryl, 2,2&#39;,4,4&#39;-tetramethoxybenzhydryl, t-butyl, t-amyl, trityl, 4-methoxytrityl, 4,4&#39;-dimethoxytrityl, 4,4&#39;,4&#34;-trimethoxytrityl, 2-phenylprop-2-yl, trimethylsilyl, t-butyldimethylsilyl, phenacyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, β-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl, β-(di(n-butyl)methylsilyl)ethyl, p-toluenesulfonylethyl, 4-nitrobenzylsulfonylethyl, allyl, cinnamyl, 1-(trimethylsilylmethyl)prop-1-en-3-yl, and like moieties. The species of carboxy-protecting group employed is not critical so long as the derivatized carboxylic acid is stable to the process herein and can be removed without disrupting the remainder of the molecule. Preferred carboxylic acid protecting groups are the allyl, methyl, and trimethylsilylethyl. Similar carboxy-protecting groups used in the cephalosporin, penicillin and peptide arts can also be used to protect a carboxy group substituent. Further examples of these groups are found in E. Haslam, &#34;Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry&#34;, J. G. W. McOmie, Ed., Plenum Press, New York, NY, 1973, Chapter 5, and T. W. Greene, &#34;Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis&#34;, John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY, 1981, Chapter 5. 
     In the above formulae, C 1  -C 6  alkyl refers to straight and branched chain alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl n-pentyl, n-hexyl, 3-methylpentyl, and like alkyl groups. C 1  -C 6  substituted alkyl refers to the same C 1  -C 6  alkyl residues, further substituted by one or more groups selected from a group consisting of cyano, fluoro, bromo, chloro, iodo, carboxy, nitro, hydroxy, or amino. The terms C 1  -C 6  alkylthio, C 1  -C 6  alkoxy, C 1  -C 6  substituted alkylthio, and C 1  -C 6  substituted alkoxy refer to like C 1  -C 6  alkyl or substituted alkyl groups attached to the substrate via an oxygen or sulfur atom. 
     As used herein, the term C 2  -C 6  alkenyl refers to straight and branched olefins. Examples of the term C 2  -C 6  alkenyl include ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propene-1-yl, 1-butene-1-yl, 2-butene-1-yl, 3-butene-1-yl, 1-pentene-1-yl, 2-pentene-1-yl, 3-pentene-1-yl, 4-pentene-1-yl, 1-hexene-1-yl, 2-hexene-1-yl, 3-hexene-1-yl, 4-hexene-1-yl, 5-hexene-1-yl, isoproprene-1-yl, isobutenyl, isopentenyl, isohexenyl, and the like. The term C 2  -C 6  substituted alkenyl refers to a C 2  -C 6  alkenyl group substituted by one or more chlor, bromo, iodo, fluoro, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, carboxy, or amino groups. 
     The terms C 2  -C 6  alkenylthio, C 2  -C 6  alkenyloxy, C 2  -C 6  substituted alkenylthio, and C 2  -C 6  substituted alkenyloxy refer to the same C 2  -C 6  alkenyl or substituted alkenyl groups attached to the substrate via an oxygen or sulfur atom. 
     As used herein, the term C 2  -C 6  alkenyl refers to straight and branched acetylenic groups. Examples of the term C 2  -C 6  alkynyl include ethynyl, 1-propyne-1-yl, 2-propyne-1-yl, 1-butyne-1-yl, 2-butyne-1-yl, 3-butyne-1-yl, 1-pentyne-1-yl, 2-pentyne-1-yl, 3-pentyne-1-yl, 4-pentyne-1-yl, 1-hexyne-1-yl, 2-hexyne-1-yl, 3-hexyne-1-yl, 4-hexyne-1-yl, 5-hexyne-1-yl, 2-methyl-2-propyne-1-yl, 2-methyl-4 propyne-1-yl, 2-methyl-3-pentyne-1-yl, 2-methyl-3-butyne-1-yl, and the like. The term C 2  -C 6  substituted alkynyl refers to a C 2  -C 6  alkynyl group substituted by one or more chloro, bromo, hydroxy, or nitro. The terms C 2  -C 6  alkynylthio, C 2  -C 6  alkynyloxy, C 2  -C 6  substituted alkynylthio, and C 2  -C 6  substituted alkynyloxy refer to the same C 2  -C 6  alkynyl or substituted alkynyl groups attached to the substrate via an oxygen or sulfur atom. 
     The process of the invention may be carried out in an inert solvent at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 80° C. Inert solvents are commonly used solvents which do not interfere in the desired reaction. 
     The choice of solvent is not highly critical, so long as the solvent is of sufficient polarity so as to maintain the substrate of Formula (II) (above) in solution. Such solvents include (but are not limited to) dimethylformamide, CH 3  CN/H 2  O, methanol/H 2  O, acetic acid, CH 2  Cl 2 , CH 3  CN, CH 3  CN/CH 3  OH, acetone, tetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate, and CHCl 3 . 
     The time necessary for completion of the reaction is, of course, dependent primarily upon intensity of the UV light source. Typically, the reaction is complete in 0.5 to 24 h. 
     In the process of the present invention, the light source may be generated from commercially available ultraviolet lamps. In the examples which follow, either a Rayonet® or Hanovia® lamp was utilized. The Rayonet® model RPR-100 2537 Å lamp is advertised to emit primarily 2537 Å light with some emittance of 1849 Å light. While the primary bandwidth emitted from this Rayonet® lamp is 2537 Å there is a considerable amount of ultraviolet radiation of both higher and lower frequency. The Hanovia® lamp emits a much broader spectrum of UV radiation. Further, as one skilled in the art of photochemistry will appreciate, it is often the case that certain filters attached to said UV source will be advisable and at times even necessary to limit the spectrum of UV irradiation to an approximate desired bandwidth. In this regard, preferred filters include the Corex®, Pyrex®, Vycor®, or quartz filters. By using a combination of filters, more narrow desired bandwidths of UV irradiation may be obtained. Further, monochromatic UV light sources of a preferred frequency may be utilized. 
     It is also sometimes desirable to use an ultraviolet sensitizer such as thiophene, acetic anhydride, 10% acetone, 4-phenylbenzophenone, 2-acetylnaphthalene, hexafluoroacetophenone, benzil, acetophenone, pyrene, benzophenone, or anthracene in the above reaction. It will further be appreciated by one skilled in the art of photochemistry that use of a sensitizer may, in some cases, result in a successful transformation for a given substrate when the same reaction would not occur without said sensitizer when utilizing a given solvent, catalyst, and UV bandwidth combination. 
     Finally, it is also sometimes desirable to utilize a catalyst such as NaHCO 3 , acetic acid, triethylamine, DMBA (dimethoxybenzoic acid), dimethyl imidazole, p-toluenesulfonic acid, methylamine, aniline, NaHCO 3  /H 2  O, morpholine, or NH 4  OH. 
     The process is carried out in a suitable UV transparent reaction vessel with an external source of UV radiation such as a UV lamp. Alternatively, an immersible UV source such as an immersible UV lamp may be inserted in the reaction solution. The UV source, if desired, is suitably equipped with a filter. The reaction mixture is preferably stirred during irradiation and, as noted above, may contain a sensitizer and a catalyst. The progress of the reaction can be monitored by removing an aliquot of the mixture from time to time and assaying the sample, for example, via high performance liquid chromatography. 
     The 3-exomethylenecepham ester product (I) is recovered from the reaction mixture by conventional isolation methods. For example, the reaction mixture may be evaporated to dryness and the product mixture chromatographed over silica gel or other material to separate the 3-exomethylenecepham ester. Alternatively, the reaction mixture may be washed with an appropriate acid or base to remove an acidic or basic sensitizer or catalyst from the reaction mixture prior to chromatography. 
     Examples of amino-protected 3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid esters II which may be employed in the process are t-butyl 7β-(t-butyloxycarbonylamino)-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate, benzyl 7β-allyloxycarbonylamino-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate, diphenylmethyl 7β-benzyloxycarbonylamino-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate 1-oxide, p-methoxybenzyl 7β-(t-butyloxycarbonylamino-3-methyl-1-carba(dethia)-3-cephem-4-carboxylate, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl 7β-propionylamino-3-ethyl-1-oxo(dethia)-3-cephem-4-carboxylate, 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 7β-ethoxycarbonylamino-3-methoxymethyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate-1,1-dioxide, methyl 7β-acetylamino-3-allyloxymethyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate, t-butyl, 7β-benzamido-3-ethoxymethyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate, benzyl 7β-(2,6-dimethoxybenzamido)-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate, and like amino-protected and carboxy-protected 3-cephem compounds. 
     Preferred 3-cephem esters for use in the process are represented by Formula (I) wherein X is sulfur and R 2  is hydrogen or C 1  -C 6  alkyl, and the sulfoxide (n=1) and sulfone (n=2) derivatives thereof. Further preferred 3-cephem esters are represented by Formula (II) wherein R 2  is hydrogen and R is a substituted benzamido group, especially methyl substituted benzamido. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the process, methyl 7β-acetylamino-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate is dissolved in acetonitrile and a catalytic amount of acetic acid is added to the solution. The solution is irradiated at room temperature for about 1 h with UV radiation (2537 Å) from a Rayonet® lamp, model RPR-100. The reaction mixture is evaporated to dryness under vacuum and the residue chromatographed over silica gel to provide methyl 7β-acetylamino-3-exomethylenecepham-4-carboxylate. 
     The 3-exo esters provided by the process (Formula I) are useful as intermediates to known antibiotic compounds. For example, when R 2  is hydrogen and X is sulfur, the amino-protecting group is removed to provide the 7-amino-3-exomethylenecepham-4-carboxylic acid ester described by Chauvette, U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,393. This nucleus ester is useful in the preparation of antibiotics such as those described by Chauvette in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,917,588 and 3,925,372. 
     As noted above, the process of the present invention is carried out by exposing the substrate to ultraviolet light. Preferably, the ultraviolet light is of a wavelength (λ) of from about 220 nm to about 280 nm. A further preferred bandwidth is from about 240 nm to about 270 nm. An even more highly preferred bandwidth is from about 250 nm to about 265 nm. The most highly preferred ultraviolet radiation is that occurring at about 260 nm. 
     As a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided compounds of Formula (II) ##STR4## wherein R is an amino-protecting group, X is --CH 2  --, O, or ##STR5## wherein n is 0, 1 or 2; R 1  is a carboxy-protecting group; and R 2  is C 1  -C 6  alkoxy, C 1  -C 6  alkylthio, C 2  -C 6  alkenyloxy, C 2  -C 6  alkenylthio, C 2  -C 6  alkynyloxy, or C 2  -C 6  alkynylthio. Such compounds are useful as intermediates and may be isomerized to the corresponding Δ 3  cephem to provide compounds of Formula (I). Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R is phenoxyacetyl or t-butoxycarbonyl are preferred. 
     The following Examples are set forth to further illustrate the present invention but are in no manner to be construed as limiting the scope thereof. 
     EXPERIMENTAL SECTION 
    
    
     EXAMPLE 1 
     Methyl 7β-acetylamino-3-methenyl-3-cepham-4-carboxylate ##STR6## 
     A 27 mg (0.1 millimole) sample of methyl 7β-acetylamino-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate was dissolved in 15 ml of CH 3  CN and subjected to ultraviolet radiation using a 450-watt Hanovia® lamp for approximately 1.5 h. High performance liquid chromatography of the reaction mixture indicated an 18% conversion to the title compound. Preparative thin layer chromatography resulted in a small amount (0.5% yield) of the title compound. 
     *NMR of final product: (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ: 2.0, s; 3.45, q; 3.75, s; 5.1, s; 5.25, d; 5.4, d; 5.65, q; 6.45, d. 
     Examples 2 to 35 below further illustrate the photochemical conversion of methyl 7β-acetylamino-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate to methyl 7β-acetylamino-3-methenyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate, using a 450-watt Hanovia® UV lamp: 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________ExampleSolvent  Filter             Sensitizer                      Catalyst  % yld exo HPLC                                         % yld Chrom__________________________________________________________________________2    DMF      Corex             none     NaHCO.sub.3                                7        2  hrs3    CH.sub.3 CN--H.sub.2 O         Corex             none     NaHCO.sub.3                                6        2  hrs4    MeOH--H.sub.2 O         Corex             none     NaHCO.sub.3                                3.5      2  hrs5    HOAc     Cores             none     (HOAc)    3.3      2  hrs6    CH.sub.2 C1.sub.2         Corex             none     Et.sub.3 N                                0.3      2  hrs7    CH.sub.2 C1.sub.2         Corex             none     DMBA      0.5      2  hrs8    CH.sub.2 C1.sub.2         Corex             thiophene                      none      0.4      2  hrs9    CH.sub.3 CN         Corex             acetic anhydride                      none      1.5      2  hrs10   CH.sub.3 CN         Corex             none     none      0.6      2  hrs11   CH.sub.3 CN--MeOH         Corex             none     none      0.7      2  hrs12   CH.sub.3 CN--MeOH         Corex             none     Dimethyl imidazole                                2.9      2  hrs13   CH.sub.2 C1.sub.2         Corex             none     none      2.3      2  hrs14   CH.sub.2 C1.sub.2 --MeOH         Corex             none     none      messy    2  hrs15   CH.sub.3 CN         Pyrex             none     none      0.03     2  hrs16   CH.sub.3 CN         Pyrex             none     Dimethyl imidazole                                0.1      2  hrs17   THF      Pyrex             none     none      0.0      2  hrs18   THF      Pyrex             none     Dimethyl imidazole                                0.0      2  hrs19   CH.sub.2 C1.sub.2         Pyrex             none     none      0.0      2  hrs20   CH.sub.2 C1.sub.2         Pyrex             none     Dimethyl imidazole                                0.0      2  hrs21   CH.sub.3 CN         Pyrex             none     none      0.3      22 hrs22   CH.sub.3 CN         Pyrex             none     Dimethyl imidazole                                3.3      22 hrs23   Acetone  Pyrex             none     none      0.0      22 hrs24   Acetone  Pyrex             none     Dimethyl imidazole                                0.0      22 hrs25   EtOAc    Pyrex             none     none      0.3      22 hrs26   EtOAc    Pyrex             none     Dimethyl imidazole                                0.0      22 hrs27   CH.sub.3 CN         Vycor             none     none      0.0      24 hrs28   MeOH     Vycor             none     none      0.0      24 hrs29   THF      Vycor             none     none      0.0      24 hrs30   CH.sub.3 NO.sub.3         Vycor             none     none      0.1      24 hrs31   (MeO).sub.3 P         Vycor             none     none      0.0      24 hrs32   CHCl.sub.3         Vycor             none     none      0.0      24 hrs33   CH.sub.3 CN         Vycor             none     Dimethyl imidazole                                0.0      24 hrs34   CHCl.sub.3         Vycor             none     Dimethyl imidazole                                1.0      24 hrs35   CH.sub.3 CN         Vycor             none     p-TsOH    0.0      24 hrs__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     Examples 36 to 56 illustrate the same conversion as in Examples 1 to 35, except that a Rayonet® lamp model RPR-100 2537 Å was used as the light source: 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________ExampleSolvent     Filter          Sensitizer                 Catalyst  % yld exo HPLC                                    % yld Chrom__________________________________________________________________________36   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   none      20.2     2  hrs37   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   Dimethyl imidazole                           2.3      2  hrs38   CH.sub.3 CN     none 10% acetone                 none      17.3     2  hrs39   CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2     none none   none      5.5      2  hrs40   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   none      8.3      19 hrs41   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   Dimethyl imidazole                           1.6      19 hrs42   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   none      25.6     75 min43   CH.sub.3 CN     Corex          none   none      2.5      2  hrs44   CH.sub.3 CN     Pyrex          none   none      0.0      2  hrs45   CH.sub.3 CN     3500 ang          none   none      0.0      3  hrs46   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   none      9.4      1  hr47   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   Dimethyl imidazole                           10.3     1  hr48   CH.sub.3 CN     none 10% acetone                 none      7.3      1  hr49   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   Dimethyl analine                           10.4     1  hr50   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   HOAc      4.2      1  hr51   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   none      9.6      1  hr52   CH.sub. 3 CN     none none   MeNH.sub.2                           17.8     1  hr53   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   Aniline   12.8     1  hr54   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   Aq NaHCO.sub.3                           22.3     1  hr55   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   Morpholine                           5.7      1  hr56   CH.sub.3 CN     none none   NH.sub.4 OH                           13.8     1  hr__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 57 
     Benzhydryl, 7β-toluamido-3-exomethylene-1-dioxo-3-cepham-4-carboxylate 
     A 1.0 g (1.89 mmoles) sample of benzhydryl, 7β-toluamido-3-methyl-1,2-dioxo-3-cephem-4-carboxylate was dissolved in about 350 ml of degassed anhydrous diethyl ether:tetrahydrofuran (3:1) and was irradiated for about 1.0 h with a 450 watt Hanovia® mercury arc lamp through a Pyrex immersion well that was water cooled. The solvent was removed in vacuo and purified by preparative thin layer chromatography on silica gel (ether elution). Yield=120 mg (12%). 
     NMR: (CDCl 3 , 90 MHz) δ: 2.33 (s, 3H); 3.62 (bs, 2H); 5.1 (d, 1H, J=5 Hz); 5.24 (5, 1H); 5.38 (s, 1H); 5.53 (s, 1H); 6.2 (dd, 1H, J=5 and 10 Hz); 6.78 (s, 1H); 7.25 (m, 14H).