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The in vitro interaction of polyaspartic acid (PAA) with aminoglycosides was evaluated using double diffusion in agar, dialysis chambers and changes in the optical density of test solutions. The results document a reversible, presumably electrostatic interaction that is optimized at a pH of approximately 5.0, by the absence of proteins over 800 Da, and at a 20:1 or 10:1 molar ratio of aminoglycoside to PAA. The PAA-aminoglycoside complex lost antibacterial activity and the ability to inhibit pronase E enzymatic activity. These results allow generation of a hypothesis as to the mechanism whereby PAA prevents aminoglycoside experimental nephrotoxicity.

A series of derivatives of 5-methoxysterigmatocystin (3a,12c-dihydro-8-hydroxy-6,11-dimethoxy-7H-furol[3',2':4,5]furo[2,3-c]xanthen-7-one) has been prepared and evaluated for antitumor activity. The potency of the parent compound has been associated with the intact bisfurano ring system and with the double bond in the terminal furan ring. It has been shown that new substituents can be introduced in the xanthone portion of the molecule and that the antitumor activity is in some cases preserved.

The first reported synthesis of 2-oxocephalosporin derivatives has been achieved via ozonolysis of the corresponding 2-methylenecephalosporins. The new cephalosporin derivatives showed some antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but the 2-oxo analogue of cephalothin was much less active than cephalothin itself.

Hetacillin was oxidized with m-chloroperbenzoic acid to give the corresponding (R)- and (S)-sulfoxides. Ozonization of hetacillin not only oxidized the sulfide but caused unexpected oxidation of the imidazolidine ring to a 2H-imidazoline. The biological spectrum showed the (R)-sulfoxide to be appreciably more active than the (S)-sulfoxide.

The synthesis of a new penicillin, disodium D-6-[alpha-(1,2,4-triazine-3,5-dione-6-carboxyamido)-4-hydroxyphenylacetamido]penicillanate (BL-P1908), is described. The compound shows superior in vitro activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to carbenicillin and ticarcillin and produces higher intramuscular serum levels in mice than does carbenicillin.

Potassium 2 beta-(chloromethyl)-2 alpha-methylpenam-3 alpha-carboxylate 1,1-dioxide (BL-P2013) and its pivaloyloxymethyl ester were prepared by the conversion of 6-aminopenicillanic acid to p-nitrobenzyl 6 alpha-bromo-2,2-dimethylpenam-3 alpha-carboxylate 1-oxide, which was rearranged with benzoyl chloride and quinoline to p-nitrobenzyl 6 alpha-bromo-2 beta-(chloromethyl)-2 alpha-methylpenam-3 alpha-carboxylate in 65% yield. Oxidation and catalytic hydrogenation afforded BL-P2013, which was found to be a potent inhibitor of various bacterial beta-lactamases and has been found to protect amoxicillin from beta-lactamases in both in vitro and in vivo systems.

p-Nitrobenzyl 2 beta-[(benzoyloxy)methyl]-2 alpha-methylpenam-3 alpha-carboxylate was prepared by reaction of p-nitrobenzyl 2-[2-oxo-3 alpha-bromo-4-(benzothiazol-2-yldithio)azetidin-1-yl] -2-isopropenylacetate with silver benzoate in the presence of iodine. The resulting diester was oxidized to the sulfone with potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide, and the bromine and p-nitrobenzyl groups were removed by hydrogenolysis to give potassium 2 beta-(benzoyloxy)methyl 2 alpha-methylpenam-3 alpha-carboxylate 1,1-dioxide. A series of related compounds, including the pivaloyl, methoxybenzoyl, p-fluorobenzoyl, and p-aminobenzoyl derivatives, were prepared in a similar way. All of these compounds were potent beta-lactamase inhibitors in vitro against the TEM beta-lactamase from Klebsiella pneumoniae A22695 and Bacteroides fragiles A22695 but less active against the beta-lactamase from Staphylococcus aureus A9606. All compounds when administered orally in a 1:1 combination with amoxicillin did not show any significant protection of mice infected with S. aureus A9606. 2 beta-(Bromomethyl)-2 alpha-methylpenam-3 alpha-carboxylic acid was prepared and reacted with silver nitrate to give the nitrate ester. Oxidation with potassium permanganate and catalytic reduction afforded 2 beta-(hydroxymethyl)-2 alpha-methylpenam-3 alpha-carboxylic acid 1,1-dioxide. 2 beta-(Bromomethyl)-2 alpha-methylpenam-3 alpha-carboxylic acid 1,1-dioxide was found to be a strong beta-lactamase inhibitor, while the 2 beta-hydroxymethyl compound showed only weak beta-lactamase-inhibiting properties.

Since the introduction of cephaloglycin and cephalothin as the first commercially available cephalosporin C derivatives, there has been a proliferation of new agents, predominantly injectables. These have provided compounds with increased potency, improved spectrum, and/or pharmacokinetic advantages. The nature of the modifications producing these changes is the subject of the present report. The pathway generally followed by chemists working on a nucleus suitable for modification is initially a combination of trial and error and application of analogies from related areas. Once a moiety conferring a desirable effect has been identified, it or its analogs will be widely utilized in an effort to achieve further improvements. The choice of derivatives to be made is appreciably influenced by potential patentability and the feasibility of synthesis. For oral cephalosporins, to achieve adequate intrinsic bioavailability, the 7 beta-side chain has almost invariably been found to require a primary amino group on the alpha-carbon (D-configuration). This has limited potential changes at the 7 beta-position and leaves the 3-position as the major site for introducing novel substituents. Among thousands of derivatives prepared, only a few have actually been developed for clinical use. For injectables, where oral absorption is not a factor, there are no such specific preferred entities for either the 3- or 7 beta-position. Because of this, cephalosporin derivatives containing a large and diverse group of substituents at these positions have been prepared. In addition, another substitution site was identified upon discovery of the cephamycins, antibiotics which differ from cephalosporins by the presence of a methoxy group at the 7 alpha-position. Substitution at this site confers remarkable beta-lactamase stability, but only methoxy has given acceptable potency. First generation injectables which have in the 3-position the naturally occurring acetoxymethyl group or other relatively simply substituents are very active against Gram-positive organisms and a few species of Gram-negatives. As new 3- and 7 beta-side chain moieties were studied, appropriate combinations yielded compounds active vs. a broader spectrum of Enterobacteriaceae and/or Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Bacteroides fragilis. Furthermore, dramatic changes in pharmacokinetics (longer half-lives) were achieved by both 3- and 7 beta-side chain modifications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The synthesis and in vitro activities of a series of 2-[(methoxycarbonyl)methylene]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acids with methyl or acetoxymethyl at the 3-position are described. The key step in the synthesis includes the stereospecific formation of the 2-[(Z)-(methoxycarbonyl)methylene] group by Pummerer rearrangement of the sulfoxides 3a and 3b. It was also possible to isomerize photochemically the C-2 olefin of 4a to its E isomer, 9. The new derivatives exhibited significant in vitro Gram-positive antibacterial activity.