Patent ID: 7511135

Claim:
A process for preparation of ceftiofur of formula (I) of a purity greater than 97% comprising the steps of: reacting [2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)]-2-syn-methoxyimino acetic acid-2-benzothiazolyl thioester of formula (II), with 7-amino-3-(2-furanylcarbonylthiomethyl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid of formula (III) in the presence of a mixture of an water-immiscible inert organic solvent and water and in the presence of a organic base and isolating ceftiofur of formula (I) of a purity greater than 97% by, a) adding water to the reaction mixture and selectively partitioning the impurities in the organic phase and ceftiofur (I) in the form of a salt with the base in the aqueous phase, b) acidifying the aqueous phase containing ceftiofur (I) in the form of a salt with the base in the presence of a mixture containing a water-miscible and a water-immiscible organic solvent and in the presence of a saturated aqueous solution of an alkali or alkaline earth containing salt, to partition ceftiofur (I) in the organic phase, and c) isolating ceftiofur (I) of a purity greater than 97% by evaporation of the organic solvent or precipitation by addition of an anti-solvent.