title: The chemistry and structure-activity relationships of C3-quaternary ammonium cephem antibiotics.
abstract: The observation of a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity for cefpirome and for cefepime highlighted the benefits of combining a C3-quaternary ammonium substituent with the (Z)-2-(2-aminothiazole-4-yl)-2-methoxyiminoacetamido side chain at C7. The quaternary nitrogen imparts beta-lactamase stability and improves both the cell penetration and the pharmacokinetic properties of these antibiotics. A variety of different quaternary ammonium substituents have been added, successive alterations in the groups attached to nitrogen have extended the activity of the fourth generation compounds. A number of different methods for attaching the quaternary ammonium group have been established, including the direct linkage to the C3-methylene, linkage via a C3-thiomethylene and also linkage via an alkenyl bridge. A number of different strategies have been developed for the preparation of these derivatives and these have been collated in this review. The beta-lactamase stability of fourth generation cephalosporins can be attributed to the formation of a transiently stable modified acyl-enzyme. The extent to which the modified acyl-enzyme contributes to the beta-lactamase stability is very much dependent on the leaving ability (nucleofugacity) of the C3-substituent. The influence of the quaternary ammonium substituents, on the formation of the modified acyl-enzyme, will be discussed.
authors: Dept. Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Laws
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Page
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry; D000077723:Cefepime; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D000097572:Cefpirome
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000077723:Cefepime; D002511:Cephalosporins; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D000097572:Cefpirome