CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYNTHESIS OF SOME FERROCENE-CONTAINING ANTIBIOTICS

This Review discusses the synthesis and characterization by our Group of new antibiotics belonging to the class of penicillins, cephalospori ns and rifamycins with ferrocenyl and 1, 1'-ferrocenilene residues in the molecule. As reactants for 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) and 7- aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) the following were used: 1,1-bis(chl orocarbonyl)ferrocene, ferrocenyl sulfochloride, 1,1'-ferrocenylenedis ulfochloride and thioglycolic acids S-modified with ferrocene. In the synthesis of rifamycins, the hydrazides of the thioglycolic acids, S-m odified with ferrocene, were employed as nucleophilic agents. The synt hesized intermediates were characterized by elemental analysis, TLC, I R, UV and H-1 NMR spectra. The characterization of new antibiotics was made by TLC, IR and UV spectral analysis. Biological activity was tes ted on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Good activity is repo rted towards Gram-positive bacteria in the case of derivatives contain ing residues of thioglycolic acid S-modified with ferrocene, the antib acterial activity being similar to that of amoxicillin, carbenicillin and cephalothin. All compounds are inactive towards Gram-negative bact eria.