New penem compounds with 5'-substituted pyrrolidinylthio group as a C-2 side chain; comparison of their biological properties with those of carbapenem compounds.

A series of new penem compounds with a C-2 side chain consisting of a pyrrolidin-3'-ylthio group substituted with various aminocarbonyl groups at the C-5' position have been prepared. Antibacterial activity, stability to renal dehydropeptidase-I and affinity to penicillin-binding proteins of these compounds were investigated and compared with the corresponding carbapenem compounds.