Patent ID: 7064198

Claim:
A process for preparation of cefuroxime axetil of formula (I) of at least 96% purity, comprising (a) reacting cefuroxime acid of formula (III) with (R,S)-1-acetoxyethyl bromide of formula (IV), and a Group I or II metal carbonate in the presence of a compound of formula (V), M m H n P q O r (V) wherein M is Group I or II metal; m is 1, 2 or 3; n is 0, 1, 2 or 4; q is 1 or 2 and r is 4, 7 or 8; in the presence of a C 1-4 alcohol and solvent, the solvent comprising N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimetheylpropionamide, N,N-diethylacetamide, N,N-diethylformamide, or N,N-diethylpropionamide, at a temperature ranging from about −30 to +30° C. and (b) purifying the product of step (a).