A light-inactivated antibiotic

Sodium 7 beta-[(R)-2-(N-b-o-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl)hydrazino-3-phenylpropan amido]cephalosporanate (1) is described as a new type of beta-lactam antibi otic, which undergoes light-induced destruction of its beta-lactam moiety a nd hence becomes biologically inactive. This type of antibiotic holds the p romise of self-destruction over a number of hours of exposure to light, so that it would not allow selection of resistance in the environment.