Novel cephalosporin vinyl ketones and tricyclic cyclopentenylcephems w
ere obtained in Wigg reactions of cephalosporin phosphorus ylides and
bifunctional carbonyl compounds. We were unable to convert the ketones
into isoxazolines in an attempted reaction with hydroxylamine. Howeve
r, they wer easily obtained by 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of 3-vinylce
phems and silyl nitronates in regio- and stereoselective reactions.