Patent ID: 8293894

Claim:
A process for the preparation of carbapenem compound of formula (I): wherein R represents hydrogen and M represents a sodium ion; the process comprising: i. condensing a compound of formula (II): wherein P′denotes a carboxy protecting group, with a compound of formula (III): wherein P″ denotes a carboxy protecting group, in the presence of a base to yield a compound of formula (IV) or its sodium salt: wherein P′ and P″ have the same meanings as defined above; ii. deprotecting both of the protecting groups in the compound of formula (IV) or its sodium salt in the presence or absence of sodium ion source, a solvent and in the presence or absence of CO 2 gas; iii. extracting the product into an aqueous medium; iv. adjusting pH of an aqueous layer in the range of 4.0 to 6.0; v. quenching the aqueous layer into an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol or mixtures thereof, at a temperature in the range of 0 to 10° C.; and vi. isolating the compound of formula (I) as an amorphous form.