Theoretical Study of the Alkaline Hydrolysis of Tricyclic Carbapenem

Alkaline hydrolysis is a good test to evaluate the properties of β‐lactam compounds and derivatives. In this work, a RHF/6‐31+G*//RHF/6‐31+G* theoretical study of the mechanism controlling the alkaline hydrolysis of sanfetrinem was conducted. The geometric properties of this compound are consistent with an intrinsic reactivity similar to that of other β‐lactams including penicillins and cephalosporins. Also, similarly to cephalosporins, the MeO group provides an alternative route for the hydrolysis mechanism.     

Theoretical study of thiolysis in penicillins and cephalosporines

Semiempirical calculations were used to conduct a comprehensive study of the thiolysis of the fundamental core of penicillins and cephalosporins. The significance of the intramolecular protonation of the β‐lactam nitrogen in the formation and cleavage of the tetrahedral intermediate ( T in Scheme 1 ) was examined in two thiols bearing substituents of different basicity in β with respect to the thiol group in the attacking nucleophile, namely 2‐mercaptoethanol ( 6 ) and 2‐mercaptoethylamine ( 7 ). Based on the results, the rate‐determining step in the reaction of penicillins is the cleavage of the tetrahedral intermediate, consistent with an intramolecular acid catalysis process in their thiolysis by 2‐mercaptoethylamine. On the other hand, the rate‐determining step in the reaction of cephalosporins, which possess an appropriate leaving group at position 3', is the formation of the tetrahedral intermediate, so the desolvation energy of the nucleophile is a major contributor to the overall energy of the process. This differential behavior between the two types of β‐lactam bicycles arises from the presence of the acetate group at 3' and the delocalization of π electrons over the N₅–C₄–C₃ system in cephalosporins; this favors the formation of a thiolate with the 5‐ethoxymethylene‐1,3‐thiazine group in the cleavage of the tetrahedral intermediate, which is stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond between N₅ and the alcohol or amine group in β of the attacking thiol. The theoretical results are consistent with previous experimental data showing that, unlike penicillins, cephalosporins undergo no intramolecular acid catalysis in their thiolysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 434–443, 2005     

Rearrangement and degradation of cephalosporins and penicillins in the presence of mercury(II) trifluoroacetate

[reaction: see text] Cephalosporins and penicillins rearrange under the influence of mercury(II) trifluoroacetate in methanol to non-beta-lactam products. The mechanisms of the rearrangements are different in the two cases. Whereas the open-chain aminoacrylic acid derivative 4 is produced from cephalosporins, the oxazole 7 and the propionamide 6 derivatives are the products from penicillins.     

A simple and rapid chemical method for the determination of cephalosporins

A simple and rapid chemical assay for cephalosporins is described. It is a simple modification of the colorimetric determination of penicillins in which the narrow spectrum beta-lactamase (penicillinase) is replaced by a broad spectrum beta-lactamase (cephalosporinase) produced by Enterobacter cloacae. The method can be used for assay of fermentation broths as well as for pure cephalosporins.     

Synthesis of N-(tosyl)azetidin-2-imines

A synthetic route for N-(tosyl)azetidin-2-imines $\text{6}$, a novel class of derivatives of β-lactams, has been developed. The procedure is applicable to the synthesis of azetidin-2-imines related to penicillins and cephalosporins.     

Theoretical Calculations of β-Lactam Antibiotics. Part VI. AM1 calculations of alkaline hydrolysis of clavulanic acid

The gas-phase basic hydrolysis of clavulanic acid ( a ) was studied by using the AM1 semi-empirical method. The results obtained show that the hydroxyethylidene side chain at C(2) is pivotal to the stability of the different reaction products involved. The products with an open oxazolidine ring are more stable than those with a closed ring fused to the β-lactam ring. This behaviour differs from that of penicillins and cephalosporins where the most stable degradation products are those with an intact thiazolidine or dihydrothiazine ring, respectively, fused to the β-lactam ring. The different chemical reactivity of clavulanic acid relative to penicillins and cephalosporins could explain the disparate behaviour of the latter two types of compound towards β-lactamases. Once the acyl-enzyme intermediate of clavulanic acid has been formed, it can evolve with cleavage of the oxazolidine ring to form a difficult to deacylate compound.     

Analytical investigations on cephalosporins--I: spectrophotometric determination of ceftriaxone

The hydroxylamine-nickel and imidazole-mercury(II) methods for the determination of penicillins and cephalosporins have been adapted to the determination of ceftriaxone both in bulk form and in pharmaceutical formulations.     

A NEW METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF β-LACTAM SULFOXIDES

Abstract

Penicillin sulfoxides (II) are key intermediates in chemical transformations of penicillins to cephalosporins. Oxidation of the sulfur atom in penicillin nucleus (I) to the sulfoxide (II) has been studied and a new economically feasible method developed.     

Characterization of some penicillins and cephalosporins by pyrolysis mass spectrometry

A number of clinically significant penicillins and cephalosporins have been characterized by pyrolysis mass spectrometry. With only a 2-μg sample of formulated drugs, the antibiotics can be clearly differentiated. The structure of the major fragments is assessed.     

Probing substrate binding to Metallo-β-Lactamase L1 from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia by using site-directed mutagenesis

Background  

The metallo-β-lactamases are Zn(II)-containing enzymes that hydrolyze the β-lactam bond in penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems and are involved in bacterial antibiotic resistance. There are at least 20 distinct organisms that produce a metallo-β-lactamase, and these enzymes have been extensively studied using X-ray crystallographic, computational, kinetic, and inhibition studies; however, much is still unknown about how substrates bind and the catalytic mechanism. In an effort to probe substrate binding to metallo-β-lactamase L1 from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, nine site-directed mutants of L1 were prepared and characterized using metal analyses, CD spectroscopy, and pre-steady state and steady state kinetics.     

Die Umwandlung von Penicillinen in Cephalosporine. Modifikationen von Antibiotika, 3. Mitteilung

A new method for the degradation of the thiazolidine ring in penicillins is described. Penicillin V ( 8a ), penicillin G ( 8b ) and 6-t-butoxycarbonylaminopenicillanic acid ( 33 ) (BOC-6-APA) were converted via their acylazides and isocyanates ( 10 and 34 ) into 2,2,2-trichloroethyl urethanes ( 11 and 35 ). Reductive removal of the trichloroethoxycarbonyl groups in an aqueous medium gave the 3-hydroxy-penam-derivatives 13 and 36 . The structure and various reactions of these carbinolamides are discussed in detail. An oxidative radical fragmentation (using lead tetraacylates and light) followed by thermal treatment transformed the 3-hydroxy-penam-derivatives into the N-formyl-β-lactam-thio-enolethers 27 and 37 in which the formyl group could be replaced by hydrogen. Reactions of the β-lactam and thio-enolether functions are described. The BOC-derivative 37 can be transformed into the isomeric compound 3 , an intermediate in Woodward's total synthesis of cephalosporins.     

Determination of Penicillins and Cephalosporins N-Pyrrolylderivatives by HPLC

Abstract

An isocratic reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for the determination of different types of penicillins and cephalosporins N-pyrrolylderivatives using UV detection at 254 nm is described. The mobile phases were aqueous methanolic (40–60%, v/v), 0.05M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.0.

The method is sufficiently sensitive and precise and is thus highly suited for use in the kinetic studies.     

Colorimetric determination of some penicillins and cephalosporins with 2-nitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride

A simple and sensitive calorimetric method for the determination of some penicillins and cephalosporins is presented. The method is based on reaction with 2-nitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride in presence of dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide and pyridine. The violet colour of the resulting acid hydrazide is measured at the appropriate wavelength. The method has been applied to determination of these antibiotics in bulk and dosage forms, with a coefficient of variation less than 2%.     

Immobilized Streptomyces clavuligerus NP1 cells for biotransformation of penicillin G into deacetoxycephalosporin G

An investigation was conducted to determine whether immobilized resting cells of Streptomyces clavuligerus NP1, entrapped on a polymeric matrix, are able to perform oxidative ring expansion of benzylpenicillin into deacetoxycephalosporin G by virtue of their deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (“expandase”) activity. Cells entrapped in polyethyleneimine-barium alginate (1.5%) were able to sustain activity for at least four 2-hcycles, whereas free resting cells were inactive after the second cycle. Although entrapped cells exhibited lower oxidative ring expansion activity than free resting cells, immobilization may offer storage stability, recyclability, and operational stability for biotransformation of penicillins to cephalosporins, thus contributing to the development of a biological means for the production of the important industrial intermediate 7-aminodeacetoxycephalosporanic acid.     

Contributions to the synthesis of some ferrocene-containing antibiotics

This Review discusses the synthesis and characterization by our Group of new antibiotics belonging to the class of penicillins, cephalosporins and rifamycins with ferrocenyl and 1, 1′-ferrocenilene residues in the molecule. As reactants for 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) and 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) the following were used: 1, 1-bis(chlorocarbonyl)ferrocene, ferrocenyl sulfochloride, 1, 1′-ferrocenylenedisulfochloride and thioglycolic acids S-modified with ferrocene. In the synthesis of rifamycins, the hydrazides of the thioglycolic acids, S-modified with ferrocene, were employed as nucleophilic agents. The synthesized intermediates were characterized by elemental analysis, TLC, IR, UV and ¹H NMR spectra. The characterization of new antibiotics was made by TLC, IR and UV spectral analysis. Biological activity was tested on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Good activity is reported towards Gram-positive bacteria in the case of derivatives containing residues of thioglycolic acid S-modified with ferrocene, the antibacterial activity being similar to that of amoxicillin, carbenicillin and cephalothin. All compounds are inactive towards Gram-negative bacteria.     

Comprehensive analysis of ß-lactam antibiotics including penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems in poultry muscle using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

A comprehensive method for the quantitative residue analysis of trace levels of 22 ß-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems, in poultry muscle by liquid chromatography in combination with tandem mass spectrometric detection is reported. The samples analyzed for ß-lactam residues are hydrolyzed using piperidine in order to improve compound stability and to include the total residue content of the cephalosporin ceftifour. The reaction procedure was optimized using a full experimental design. Following detailed isotope labeling, tandem mass spectrometry studies and exact mass measurements using high-resolution mass spectrometry reaction schemes could be proposed for all ß-lactams studied. The main reaction occurring is the hydrolysis of the ß-lactam ring under formation of the piperidine substituted amide. For some ß-lactams, multiple isobaric hydrolysis reaction products are obtained, in accordance with expectations, but this did not hamper quantitative analysis. The final method was fully validated as a quantitative confirmatory residue analysis method according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and showed satisfactory quantitative performance for all compounds with trueness between 80 and 110 % and within-laboratory reproducibility below 22 % at target level, except for biapenem. For biapenem, the method proved to be suitable for qualitative analysis only.

Spectrophotometric method for assay of penicillins

Ninhydrin in 0.2M citrate buffer (pH 5) containing SnCl₂ is proposed as a new reagent for Spectrophotometric determination of penicillins and analysis of their pharmaceutical formulations. The method is based on acid hydrolysis of penicillins with 5M HCl and subsequent treatment with ninhydrin. The resulting violet colour exhibits maximum absorption at 570 nm.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of cyclohexylhydantoin and cyclohexylidenehydantoin formed during the synthesis of phenylhydantoin from hydantoin and cyclohexanone

-Phenylhydantoin can be converted into -phenylglycine by an enzymatic process. -phenylglycine is an important starting material in the production of β-lactams such as semisynthetic penicillins and cephalosporins. In our laboratory, the synthesis of phenylhydantoin was achieved from hydantoin and cyclohexanone in the presence of a base. An efficient and fast isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the determination of phenylhydantoin, cyclohexylhydantoin and cyclohexylidenehydantoin. Quantitative analysis was carried out by an external standard method.     

A structure-biological activity study based on cluster analysis and the nonlinear mapping method of pattern recognition

Cluster analysis is used in a study of structure—activity relationships of biologically active compounds. A hierarchal clustering technique was applied to 29 typical antibiotics using 27 antibacterial activities. These antibiotics were of various types; penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, macrolides, tetracyclines, and peptides. The result was obtained as a branching tree diagram. The technique allowed the antibiotics to be distributed into 6 clusters, each cluster mostly consisting of compounds with a similar structure. Nonlinear mapping was used to display the 27-dimensional data structure of the antibiotics. The nonlinear map was compared with the clusters obtained by cluster analysis.     

Using steric hindrance to design new inhibitors of class C beta-lactamases

beta-lactamases confer resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins and cephalosporins. However, beta-lactams that form an acyl-intermediate with the enzyme but subsequently are hindered from forming a catalytically competent conformation seem to be inhibitors of beta-lactamases. This inhibition may be imparted by specific groups on the ubiquitous R(1) side chain of beta-lactams, such as the 2-amino-4-thiazolyl methoxyimino (ATMO) group common among third-generation cephalosporins. Using steric hindrance of deacylation as a design guide, penicillin and carbacephem substrates were converted into effective beta-lactamase inhibitors and antiresistance antibiotics. To investigate the structural bases of inhibition, the crystal structures of the acyl-adducts of the penicillin substrate amoxicillin and the new analogous inhibitor ATMO-penicillin were determined. ATMO-penicillin binds in a catalytically incompetent conformation resembling that adopted by third-generation cephalosporins, demonstrating the transferability of such sterically hindered groups in inhibitor design.