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Three positional analogues (4-, 5-, and 7-) of benzothienylglycine and (N-acetylindolinyl)-5-glycine were prepared and coupled to 7-aminodeacetoxycephalosporanic acid (7-ADCA) to give the cephalosporins 17a-c. In addition two isomeric (2,3-b and 3,2-b) thienothiopheneglycines were synthesized and coupled to 7-ADCA to yield cephalosporins 30d and 30e. In vitro testing of these new cephalosporins indicates good activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Against Streptococcus pneumoniae infections compound 25 displayed better mouse protection (both orally and subcutaneously) than cephalexin.

The methyl and isopropyl esters of (RS)-3-benzothienylglycine were resolved with (+)- and (-)-tartaric acid in acetonitrile to give the corresponding R and S salts. The R-salt 4 was hydrolyzed to (R)-3-benzothienylglycine (5). The amino group in 5 was protected with the Boc function and the protected R amino acid 6 coupled with the p-NB ester of 7-ADCA to give the diprotected cephalosporin 7. After removal of the Boc and p-NB groups, the R isomer of 7-(3-benzothienylglycylamido)deacetoxycephalosporanic acid (1) was obtained. The p-NB ester of epimeric cephalosporin 7 was separated by preparative chromatography into R and S isomers. After removal of the protective groups, the S epimer was isolated. The comparison of antibacterial activity of the R and S epimers and the RS mixture of cephalosporin 1 is reported.

The structure-activity relationship for 7-arylacetamido cephalosporins has been extended. Modifications of the 7-aryl group led to improvements in microbiological activity against Gram-positive organisms. However, Gram-negative activity was generally much poorer than that of the lead compound 7-[(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)acetamido]-3-chloro-cephalosporanic acid (A). Modifications of the 3-position did not significantly change the microbiological activity or spectrum. Of the compounds selected for mouse protection studies (ED50's), 7-[(benzothien-3-yl)acetamido]-3-chloro cephalosporin and A showed the best per oral to subcutaneous ED50 ratios.

A number of 7-(arylacetamido)-3-substituted cephalosporins were prepared and tested in animals for oral absorbability. Bioavailability in mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys was determined after oral or parenteral administration. Oral bioavailability of five compounds selected for more intensive study was generally higher than that of penicillin V in all species tested. The results of ED50 testing against experimental infections in mice generally supported the bioavailability studies. Antibiotic activities were evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms with some derivatives expressing in vitro activity similar to cefaclor. The plasma half-life in rats was relatively short and the plasma curves were strongly influenced by probenecid, indicating rapid renal secretion. Some 7-(arylacetamido)-3-chloro cephalosporins are orally absorbed in animals to a greater extent than penicillin V, and antibacterial agent of proven clinical utility.

Recent work has shown that the activity of cephalosporins in inhibiting exocellular DD-peptidases from Streptomyces R61 and Actinomadura R39 are, at best, only poorly related to minimum inhibitory concentrations against pathogenic isolates. Taking into account the rate at which cephalosporins diffuse through porin channels, such as exist in certain Gram-negative organisms, does not help in establishing a relationship between MIC data and the kinetic data on the model enzymes. Most published cell wall permeability studies, the porin ones being a principal exception, have not examined long enough series of structurally related compounds to establish property-activity relationships.

A series of 20-deoxo-20-cyclic (alkylamino) derivatives of tylosin, desmycosin, macrocin and lactenocin was prepared by reductive amination of the C-20 aldehyde group. The majority of the compounds were prepared using metal hydrides (sodium cyanoborohydride or sodium borohydride) as the reducing agents and a suitable cyclic alkylamine. Subsequently, a more convenient procedure was developed using formic acid as a reducing agent. The C-20 amino derivatives prepared from desmycosin exhibited good in vitro antimicrobial activity against Pasteurella haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida (MIC range of 0.78 approximately 6.25 micrograms/ml) as well as Mycoplasma species (MIC range of 0.39 approximately 6.25 micrograms/ml). Several derivatives showed excellent oral efficacy against infections caused by P. multocida in chicks. One of these derivatives, 20-deoxo-20-(3,5-dimethylpiperidin-1-yl)desmycosin (tilmicosin or EL-870) was selected for development as a therapeutic agent for pasteurellosis in calves and pigs.

Modification of the aldehyde group in tylosin and related macrolide antibiotics dramatically enhanced the oral efficacy of the derivatives against experimental infections caused by susceptible bacteria in laboratory animals. A large number and wide variety of aldehyde-modified macrolide derivatives were prepared, utilizing the Mitsunobu reaction and other chemical transformations. Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity indicated that derivatives of demycarosyltylosin (desmycosin) combined the broadest spectrum of antimicrobial activity with the best efficacy and bioavailability after oral administration.

3-(Substituted)vinylcephem nuclei have been prepared by the reaction of 3-formylcephem derivatives with stabilized phosphoranes. Appropriate synthetic steps allowed preparation of a series of 3-ethoxycarbonylvinyl- and 3-carboxyvinylcephem derivatives bearing a variety of 7-acylamino functions. The phenoxyacetyl and thiopheneacetyl derivatives of the 3-cyanovinylcephem nucleus were also prepared. Although general gram-positive activity was comparable to cephalothin in many cases, against penicillin G resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the new cephalosporins were of low effectiveness. The 3-(substituted)vinyl cephalosporins had good activity against a number of gram-negative organisms. In some cases, this activity was excellent. The N-acetyl analogs had surprisingly good activity relative to N-acetyl-7-ACA. The phenylmalonoyl side-chain derivatives were shown to have an unusual antibacterial spectrum expansion (relative to previously known cephalosporins) to include activity against Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The novel lipopeptide antibiotic A21978C complex is active against Gram-positive organisms. This complex consists of a common peptide nucleus with various lipid acyl groups at the N-terminus characteristic of each individual factor. The fatty acid acyl group is removed by incubation of the A21978C complex with Actinoplanes utahensis to give the peptide nucleus. This peptide nucleus has the same amino acid sequence as A21978C. New analogs of A21978C were synthesized by acylation of the N-terminus of a tert-butoxycarbonyl (tert-BOC)-protected nucleus and subsequent deprotection. 1H NMR showed that the newly introduced acyl group was at the desired N-terminus. Three major groups of analogs were synthesized bearing fatty acid acyl, amino-aroyl and extended peptide side chains. Each analog was evaluated for antimicrobial activity and acute toxicity. Of these analogs, the n-decanoyl analog of A21978C (LY146032) gave the best survival in the mouse acute toxicity test at a high dose of 1,000 mg/kg, iv and was chosen for further study. This analog has been named daptomycin.