Glaxo Group Limited

Stuart B Laing

Gordon G Weingarten

Gordon H Phillipps

David C Humber

Brian M Bain

Androstane carbothioic acids of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group in the .alpha.-configuration, a methyl group which may be in either the .alpha.- or .beta.-configuration, or a methylene group;

Androstane carbothioic acids

A process for the preparation of a 3-carbamoyloxymethyl cephalosporin compound which comprises reacting a 3-hydroxymethyl cephalosporin with dihalophosphinyl isocyanate and converting the resulting 3-phosphonocarbamoyloxymethyl cephalosporin reaction product by hydrolysis to the desired compound. The isocyanates used in the process are readily available and easy to handle and thus the process avoids the use of hazardous and/or expensive reagents.

Process for preparing 3-carbamoyloxymethyl cephalosporins

A process for the preparation of cephalosporins having a phosphonocarbamoyloxymethyl group at the 3-position by reacting a cephalosporin having at the 3-position a group ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently alkyl, aralkyl, alicyclic or aryl groups or together form a divalent group) with a compound of formula ##STR2## (wherein R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are independently alkyl, aralkyl, alicyclic or aryl groups or any two of R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 together form a divalent group, and X is halogen) followed by hydrolysis. The 3-phosphonocarbamoyloxymethyl cephalosporin products of the process exhibit antibiotic activity, and if desired may be readily converted to 3-carbamoyloxymethyl cephalosporins which themselves show antibiotic activity.

Process for the preparation of cephalosporin compounds

A process for the preparation of a 3-carbamoyloxymethyl cephalosporin compound which comprises hydrolyzing a 3-phosphonocarbamoyloxymethyl cephalosporin compound. The hydrolysis is preferably effected at a pH in the range of pH3 to 4, for example using aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate.

3-Phosphonocarbamoyloxymethyl cephalosporin compounds of formula ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 represents an acylamido group and R.sup.3 represents hydrogen, or a lower alkyl, alkylthio or alkoxy group) and non-toxic derivatives thereof. The compounds exhibit antibiotic activity.

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Stuart B Laing