| abstract |
Cephalosporin compounds having a 3-position substituent of the formula (I) are described: -CH2-Y-Q(I) wherein Y is a linking group -NR4CO-Y'-, -NR4SO2-Y'-, -OCO-Y;- or -SCO-Y'- wherein R4 is hydrogen, various optionally substituted alkyl groups or alkenyl and Y' is a bond or various optionally substituted alkylene or alkenylene groups; and Q is a benzene ring (optionally fused to a further benzene ring so forming a naphthyl group or optionally fused to a 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic aromatic group containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur), said benzene ring (or in the case of naphthyl either benzene ring) being substituted by groups R1 and R2 which are ortho with respect to one another, wherein R1 is hydroxy or an in vivo hydrolyzable ester thereof and R2 is hydroxy, an in vivo hydrolyzable ester thereof, carboxy, sulpho, hydroxymethyl, methanesulphonamido or ureido; or Q is a group of the formula (II) or (III): <IMAGE> II <IMAGE> III wherein M is oxygen or a group NR3 wherein R3 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; ring Q being further optionally substituted. The use of such compounds as antibacterial agents is described as are processes for their preparation and intermediates therefor. |