Structure re-assignment of a metabolite of ampicillin and amoxycillin and epimerization of their penicilloic acids.

Products formed in-vitro from ampicillin and amoxycillin penicilloates have been examined by high-performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and thiol group determination and were found to be the 5S epimers of the penicilloic acids. This is in contrast to a published claim that the corresponding penamaldic acids were formed by the treatment used.