Claims
        
                - 1. A process for the preparation of compounds of the formula I
 
                - 2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the Lewis acid is anhydrous magnesium halide.
 
                - 3. The process according to claim 2 wherein the Lewis acid is anhydrous MgBr2.
 
                - 4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the mild base is triethylamine, DMAP or diisopropyl ethyl amine.
 
                - 5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the low temperature is about −20° C. to −40° C.
 
                - 6. The process according to claim 1 wherein intermediate compound 19 is an acetate, triflate or a tosylate.
 
                - 7. The process according to claim 1 wherein step (c) is carried out at a mild temperature.
 
                - 8. The process according to claim 7 wherein the mild temperature is about 20° C. to 35° C.
 
                - 9. The process according to claim 1 wherein the reductive elimination process is carried out using activated zinc and a phosphate buffer at a pH of about 6.5 to 8.0 or hydrogenating over a catalyst.
 
                - 10. The process according to claim 9 wherein the hydrogenating over a catalyst is carried out using palladium on charcoal.
 
                - 11. The process according to claim 1 wherein A or B is a fused tricyclic heteroaryl group or a fused bicyclic heteroaryl group.
 
                - 12. The process according to claim 11 wherein the A or B is a fused bicyclic heteroaryl group.
 
                - 13. The process according to claim 12 wherein the fused bicyclic heteroaryl group has the structural formula
 
                - 14. The process according to claim 12 wherein the fused bicyclic heteroaryl group has the structural formula
 
                - 15. The process according to claim 12 wherein the fused bicyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 16. The process according to claim 12 wherein the fused tricyclic heteroaryl group has the formula
 
                - 17. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 18. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 19. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 20. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 21. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 22. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 23. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 24. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 25. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 26. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 27. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 28. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 29. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 30. The process according to claim 12 wherein the tricyclic heteroaryl group is
 
                - 31. The 6-bromo-penem derivative of structure 16
 
                - 32. A process for the preparation of compound of formula !
 
                - 33. The process according to claim 32 wherein the 6-aminopenicillanic acid is dissolved in methanol or THF.
 
                - 34. The process according to claim 32 wherein step (a) is performed in the presence of 48% w/w hydrobromic acid and sodium or potassium nitrite solution.
 
                - 35. The process according to claim 34 wherein step (a) is performed at −10° C. to −30° C.
 
                - 36. The process according to claim 32 wherein the base in step (a) is sodium or potassium carbonate and the organic solvent is THF or DMF.
 
                - 37. The process according to claim 32 wherein the aromatic solvent in step (c) is toluene or xylene.
 
                - 38. The process according to claim 32 comprising the sequential conversion of compound 23 to 26 wherein there is no isolation of the intermediates.
 
                - 39. The process according to claim 38 wherein the 4-nitrobenzyl 6-bromopenicillanate 1-oxide 23 is reacted with mercaptobenzothiazole in refluxing aromatic organic solvent and is treated with triethylamine at about 0 to −20° C. to form a reaction mixture; said reaction mixture is charged with an organic acid and an anhydride, an organic tertiary base and a trialkyl or triaryl phosphate sequentially at about −10° C. to −40° C.
 
                - 40. The process according to claim 32 wherein step (g) is carried out without isolating the aldol intermediate.
 
                - 41. A process for the preparation of compounds of the formula I
 
                - 42. The process according to claim 41 wherein R is p-nitrobenzyl, benzyl, para-methoxy benzyl, benzhydrol, or trityl.
 
        
                
                        Parent Case Info
        [0001] This application claims priority from copending application Ser. No. 10/427,666, filed May 1, 2003, which claims the benefit of provisional application 60/377,048 filed May 1, 2002, the entire disclosure of each hereby being incorporated by reference.
                
                
                
                        Provisional Applications (1)
        
            
                
                     | 
                    Number | 
                    Date | 
                    Country | 
                
            
            
    
         | 
            60377048 | 
        May 2002 | 
        US | 
    
            
        
        Continuation in Parts (1)
        
            
                
                     | 
                    Number | 
                    Date | 
                    Country | 
                
            
            
    
        | Parent | 
            10427666 | 
        May 2003 | 
        US | 
    
    
        | Child | 
            10693315 | 
        Oct 2003 | 
        US |