Organic compounds

Abstract

Intermediates useful in the preparation of compounds having a penam or cephem ring structure, particularly penicillins and cephalosporins, and their preparation.

Description

This invention relates to intermediates useful in the preparation of compounds having the penam or cephem ring structure particularly penicillin and cephalosporin compounds which have antibacterial activity

According to the present invention there is provided a compound of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein n is 0 or 1 and Z is a divalent radical of formula (II), (III) or (IV) ##STR2## wherein R is hydrogen an acetoxy group, a pyridinium group or a heterocyclic thio group, and X is a carboxylic group or a salt or ester derivative thereof or X and R taken together in formula (III) or (IV) represent the divalent radical ##STR3##

When X is an esterified carboxylic acid group, the most versatile esters are those which can readily be hydrolysed to the parent acid. Examples of suitable esters include the benzyl, para-methoxybenzyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, and tert-butyl esters. Other suitable esters include the acyloxymethyl esters such as acetoxymethyl and pivaloyloxymethyl esters as well as "lactone" esters of structure (V) ##STR4## wherein Z.sup.1 is a divalent radical such as 1,2-phenylene or 4,5-dimethoxyphenyl-1,2-ene-radical.

The CN--C bond in compounds (I) may be either cis or trans with respect to the bridgehead hydrogen, and, as will be apparent later, mixtures of the cis and trans isomers are generally formed when preparing compounds (I).

When R is a heterocyclic thio group, particular examples include the following: ##STR5## although many other examples of heterocyclic thio groups are known (see for example those listed in British Pat. Spec. No. 1,328,340)

Compounds of formula (I) are prepared by reacting a compound of formula (VI) ##STR6## wherein n and Z are as defined in formula (I) with phosgene in the presence of an acid acceptor. Preferably the acid acceptor is a tertiary amine such as N-methylmorpholine. The compound of formula (VI) used as starting material may be prepared by N-acylating the 6- or 7- amino compound with an N-acylating derivative of formic acid e.g. formicacetic anhydride or the intermediate formed when a carbodiimide coupling agent is used with formicacid. The above reaction is most preferably carried out using a compound (VI) in which the group X is an esterified carboxylic acid group, since this gives a cleaner reaction. If desired, the ester group may then be hydrolysed to give the parent acid or salt. When cephem structures (I) are to be prepared, it may be preferable to carry out the phosgene reaction using a compound (VI) wherein R is not the ultimately desired group, and thereafter introduce the desired group e.g. by nucleophilic displacement. Thus the phosgene reaction might be carried out using the corresponding 3-acetoxy compound which is later displaced by a heterocyclic thiol.

In general, mixtures of the .alpha.- and .beta.- isomers of the isocyano compound (I) are obtained after the phosgene reaction, the ratio of one isomer to the other being dependant on reaction conditions such as solvent, temperature and time. Usually separation of isomers is not necessary since the isomeric mixture can be used as the intermediate in the same way as the pure isomers.

The value of compounds (I) derives from their use in the preparation of the corresponding 6- or 7- substituted compound (VII) ##STR7## wherein n and Z are as defined in formula (I) and R.sup.1 is a group derived from an electrophile e.g. hydroxy alkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, aralkoxycarbonylalkyl, aralkyl, alkylthio and the like. It is known that penicillins and cephalosporins having both an acylamino substituent and a second substituent at position 6- or 7- respectively are of value as antibacterial agents (of Belgian Pat. No. 768,528). The isocyano group of compounds (VII) above may be converted to a free amino group by reaction with an acid which does not cleave the .beta.-lactam ring of the penam or cephem (e.g. arylsulphonic acids such as p-toluenesulphonic acid). The free amino group may then be acylated by any of the N-acylation procedures known for semisynthetic penicillins and cephalosporins. In addition, the substituent R.sup.1 in compounds (VII) may be modified further either before or after conversion of the isocyano group to an amino or acylamino group. Thus the versatility of the intermediate compounds (I) is clear, and specific examples of their use are given later in this specification.

The following Examples 1 to 9 illustrate the preparation of representative compounds of formula (I), whilst the remaining Examples illustrate the use of such compounds in the preparation of penam and cephem structures having an electrophile - derived substituent at position 6- or 7-.

EXAMPLE 1

Benzyl 6-Isacyanopenicillianate

A solution of benzyl 6.beta.-formylaminopenicillanate (4g) in dry methylene chloride (40 ml) was treated with N-methylmorpholine (3.3 ml) and then at -50.degree. C. with a methylene chloride solution of phosgene (1.2 g). The reaction was exothermic. After 30 minutes at -40.degree. C. ice-water was added and the organic phase was washed with water and dried. Evaporation gave crude benzyl 6-isocyanopenicillanate. Column chromatography on silica gel using 30% v/v ethyl acetate in light petrol (60.degree.-80.degree. C.) gave a semisolid mixture of the 6.alpha.- and 6.beta.- epimers (ratio 55:45) (1.2 g), from which the 6.alpha.- isomer was obtained by fractional crystallisation from ether, m.p. 87.degree.-89.degree. C. .nu..sub.N C.sup.CHCl.sbsp.3 2140 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 2

Following the same procedure as in Example 1, the phthalidyl ester of 6.beta.-formylaminopenicillanic acid was converted to phthalidyl 6-isocyanopenicillanate. .nu..sub.max (CHCl.sub.3) 2120, 1790, 1770 (shoulder) cm.sup.-.sup.1

EXAMPLE 3

Following the same procedure as in Example 1, the t-butyl ester of 7.beta.-formylaminocephalosporinate was converted to t-butyl 7.beta.-isocyanocephalosporinate as a chromatographically homogeneous syrup .nu..sub.N C.sup.CHCl.sbsp.3 2140 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 4

A solution of methyl 7.beta. -formylaminodesacetoxycephalosporanate (1.02 g) in methylene chloride (25 mls) was treated with N-methylmorpholine (1.1 ml) and then at -40.degree. C. to -50.degree. C. with a 2 M solution of phosgene in methylene chloride (2.5 mls). After 1 hour, water was added and the organic phase separated. The latter was washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution then with water, and dried and evaporated to give methyl- 7.beta.-isocyanodesacetoxycephalosporanate. Chromatography on silica gel gave the product as an oil .nu..sub.max (CH Cl.sub.3) 2110 1785, 1720 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 5

A solution of methyl 7.beta.-formylamino-3-(2.sup.1 -methyl-1.sup.1, 3.sup.1, 4.sup.1 -thiadiazol-5.sup.1 -yl)thiomethylceph-3-em-4-carboxylate (0.81 g) in methylene chloride (15 mls) was treated with N-methylmorphine (0.56 ml) and then at -50.degree. C. to -60.degree. C. with a 2 M solution of phosgene in methylene chloride (1.2 mls). After 1 hour at -40.degree. C. and 0.5 hour at 20.degree. C. ice-water was added and the organic layer separated. The latter was washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution then water, and dried and evaporated. Chromatography on silica gave methyl 7.beta.-isocyano-3-(2.sup.1 -methyl-1.sup.1,3.sup.1,4.sup. 1 -thiadazol-5.sup.1 -yl)-thiomethylceph-3-em-4-carboxylate. (0.16 g) .nu..sub.max (CH Cl.sub.3) 2110, 1780, 1720 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 6

By the general procedure of Example 1, using as starting material benzyl 6.beta.-formylaminopenicillanate sulphoxide, benzyl 6-isocyanopenicillanate sulphoxide is prepared.

EXAMPLE 7

By the general procedure of Example 4 using as starting material methyl 7.beta.-formylaminodesacetoxycephalosporanate, methyl 7.beta.-formylaminodesacetoxycephalosporanate sulphoxide is prepared.

EXAMPLE 8

By the general procedure of Example 4 using as starting material methyl 7.beta.-formylamino-3-methylceph-2-em-4-carboxylate, methyl 7.beta.-isocyano -3-methylceph-2-em-4-carboxylate is prepared.

EXAMPLE 9

Catalytic hydrogenation of the product of Example 1 using Raney Nickle produces 6-isocyanopenicillanic acid.

EXAMPLE 10

Benzyl 6.alpha.-[1'-hydroxyisopropyl]-6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate

A mixture of benzyl 6.alpha.- and 6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate (0.71 g ) dry acetone (5 ml.) and powdered potassium carbonate (0.31 g.) was stirred at 20.degree. C. with monitoring of the reaction by thin layer chromatography When all starting material had disappeared (2 hours) ice-water was added and the acetone was removed at 20.degree. C. Extraction of the aqueous residue with ether was followed by washing the extracts with water drying and evaporation to yield the crude 6.alpha.-[1'-hydroxyisopropyl] derivative. Purification by column chromatography on silica gel led to the product as a syrup (0.5 g.); .nu..sub.N C.sup.CHCl.sbsp.3 2130 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 11

Benzyl 6.alpha.-methoxycarbonylmethyl-6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate

When a mixture of benzyl 6.alpha.- and 6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate epimers, dimethylformamide (3 ml.) and powdered potassium carbonate (0.24 g) were stirred together in the presence of methyl bromacetate (0.16 ml.) for 3 hours in an ice-bath, work up and chromatography as described in Example 10 led to the benzyl 6.alpha.-methoxycarbonylmethyl-isocyanopenicillanate as a clear colourless syrup, (0.3 g.); .nu..sub.max.sup.CHCl.sbsp.3 2130, 1790, 1740 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 12

Benzyl 6.alpha.-benzyloxycarbonylethyl-6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate

A mixture of benzyl 6.alpha.- and 6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate epimers (3.8 g) in dry dimethylformamide (15 ml.) was stirred at 20.degree. C. with powdered potassium carbonate (1.7 g) and benzyl acrylate (2.5 g.) for 11/2 hours. Addition of ice-water was followed by extraction of the precipitated oil into ethyl acetate. The extracts were washed with water dried and evaporated. Column chromatography of the residue on silica gel using 30% ethyl acetate in petrol as eluent provided benzyl 6.alpha.-benzyloxycarbonylethyl-6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate as a syrup (2.8 g.); .nu..sub.N C.sup.CHCl.sbsp.3 2120 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 13

Benzyl 6.alpha.-benzyl-6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate

A mixture benzyl 6.alpha.- and 6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate epimers (1.0 g.) dimethylformamide (3.5 ml.), potassium carbonate (0.47 g.) and benzyl bromide (0.43 ml.) were stirred together for 21/2 hours in an ice-bath. The reaction was worked up as in Example 10 and column chromatography gave benzyl 6.alpha.-benzyl-6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate (0.24 g.), m.p. 105.degree.-107.degree. C.

EXAMPLE 14

t-Butyl 7.alpha.-benzyloxycarbonylethyl-7.beta.-isocyanocephalosporanate

t-Butyl 6.beta.-isocyanocephalosporanate was reacted as described in Example 12, chromatography of the crude product led to t-butyl 7.alpha.-benzyloxycarbonylethyl-7.beta.-isocyanocepholosporanate as a colourless syrup; .nu..sub.max.sup.CHCl.sbsp.3 2120, 1795, 1735 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 15

Benzyl 6.alpha.-benzoylmethyl-6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate

A solution of benzyl 6-isocyanopenicillanate (mixed C6-epimers) (1.43 g) in dimethylformamide containing anhydrous potassium carbonate (0.63 g) and phenacylbromide (0.9 g) was stirred for 4 hours at 5.degree. C. Work up and chromatography provided the desired compound as an oil (0.35 g.)

.nu..sub.max (CHCl.sub.3): 2120, 1795, 1740, 1680 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 16

t-butyl 7.alpha.-isocyano-7.beta.-methylthiocephalosporante

A mixture of 7.beta.-isocyanocephalosporanate (1.7 g), potassium carbonate (0.7 g), methylmethoxycarbonyldisulphide (0.7 g.) and dimethylformamide (10 mls.) was stirred for 21/4 hours at 5.degree.-10.degree. C. After addition of water, the neutral product was isolated from ethylacetate. On the basis of spectral evidence this contained the desired isocyanide: .nu..sub.max (CHCl.sub.3): 2120, 1795, 1740 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 17

Benzyl 6.alpha.-benzyl-6.beta.-aminopenicillanate

A solution of benzyl 6.alpha.-benzyl6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate (1.75 g) in chloroform (50 ml) was stirred with p-toluene sulphonic acid (0.83 g) for 1/2 hour at 20.degree..

The chloroform was washed with aq. sodium bicarbonate dried and evaporated to give the essentially pure amine (100%). Chromatography over silica gel provided the pure amine, m.p. 99.degree.-101.degree..nu..sub.max (CHCl.sub.3): 3360, 1775, 1750 cm.sup.-.sup.1. Alternatively addition of p-toluene sulphonic acid to the crude amine dissolved in ether provided the p-toluene sulphonic acid salt m.p. 163.degree.-164.degree..

EXAMPLE 18

Benzyl 6.alpha.-(benzyloxycarbonylethyl)-6.beta.-aminopenicillanate

Following the procedure of Example 17 benzyl 6.alpha.-benzylcarbonylethyl-6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate (2.54 g) provided the title compound as a syrup. .nu..sub.max (CHCl.sub.3) 3350, 1770, 1740, 1600 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

EXAMPLE 19

Benzyl 6.alpha.-(methylthio)-6.beta.-aminopenicillanate

Benzyl 6.alpha.-methylthio-6.beta.-isocyanopenicillanate (3.61 g) was dissolved in chloroform (110 mls) and treated with p-toluene sulphonic acid (1.9 g). After 80 mins at 5.degree. the solution was washed with aq sodium bicarbonate, dried and evaporated. A solution of the residual free base in ether (150 mls) on treatment with p-toluene sulphonic acid provided with crystalline p-toluene sulphonic acid salt (56%, m.p. 136.degree.-138.degree. dec).

.nu..sub.max (CHCl.sub.3): 3200-3300 (b), 1785, 1740 cm.sup.-.sup.1.

Phenylacetylation of benzyl 6.alpha.-(methylthio)-6.beta.-aminopenicillanate using phenylacetyl chloride, followed by the chlorine-trithylamine-methanol procedure of Spitzer and Goodson (Tetrahedon Letters, [1973] 273) produced benzyl 6.alpha.-methoxy phenylacetamido penicillanate which was converted to 6.alpha.-methoxy phenyl-a acetamidopenicillanic acid by catalytic hydrogenation.

Claims

1. A process for the conversion of a compound of the formula: ##STR8## wherein n is zero or 1, X is COOH, a non-toxic salt thereof or a conventional penicillin ester, and R' is hydroxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, aralkoxycarbonyl-alkyl, aralkyl or alkylthio into a compound of the formula: ##STR9## which comprises reacting a compound of the formula (VII) with an acid capable of converting CN to NH.sub.2 and which does not cleave the .beta.-lactam ring of the penam.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein n is zero.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein X is a conventional penicillin carboxylic acid ester.

4. A process according to claim 3 wherein X is a benzyl, phthalidyl or t-butyl ester.

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the acid is an arylsulphonic acid.

6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the arylsulphonic acid is p-toluenesulphonic acid.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein R' is methoxy.

8. A process according to claim 1 wherein R' is alkylthio.