Electrochemical reduction and oxidation of the antibiotic cefepime at a carbon electrode

The O-methyl oxime grouping in the antibiotic cefepime is reduced in aqueous buffer solution at pH<8 at a carbon electrode. The reduction of the protonated form of the oxime occurs in a single two-electron step. By comparison with anodic wave of 2-aminothiazole it was furthermore shown that the oxidation of cefepime involves the 2-amino group located on the thiazole ring in the side chain on C-7. Both reduction and oxidation peaks can be used for analytical purposes.