abstract |
There is described the production of a 7-epi-3- exomethylenecepham, useful in the synthesis of antibiotic compounds, by a process which comprises reducing a sulfoxide of formula (II):n or acetoxymethyl derivative of formula (III):n when n is 0 or 1 and R is hydrogen or an acyl group and R 1 is hydrogen, a carboxy-protecting group, or a cation. |