Intermediate of carbapenem antibiotics and process for the preparation thereof

Abstract

There is disclosed an azetidinone compound of the formula (I):wherein R is hydrogen, or a hydroxy protecting group, Rand Rare each independently alkyl of 1-15 carbon atoms, benzyl or cyclized together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 5 or 6-membered cyclic hydrocarbon or a heterocyclic radical having one or two hetero ring atoms, said hetero ring atoms being selected from the group consisting of O and S; Ris lower alkyl or —COO(lower alkyl) Ris phenyl, or phenyl substituted with halogen, lower alkoxy or nitro which is useful as a synthetic intermediate to the 1'β-methylcarbapenem-type antibacterial agent.