Studies on beta-lactam antibiotics. I. Synthesis and in vitro anti-pseudomonal activity of 3-isothiazole-cephalosporin derivatives.

The synthesis and in vitro activity of 7 beta-[(Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2-(2-carboxy-2- alkoxyimino)acetamido]cephalosporins with a (4-carboxy-3-hydroxy-5-isothiazolyl)thiomethyl group at the 3-position are described. These cephalosporins (9a approximately 9i) showed excellent activity against Gram-negative bacteria including beta-lactamase producing strains. The most interesting compound of the series was 7 beta-[(Z)-2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2- (2-carboxy-2-propoxyimino)acetamido]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (9g, YM-13115) because of its outstanding inhibitory potency against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and highly prolonged plasma half-life in rats.