Enzymatic synthesis of cephalosporins is hampered by secondary hydrolysis a
nd by complicated down-stream processing. Instantaneous removal of cephalos
porin product by clathration, using an efficient and selective complexing a
gent, offers an attractive opportunity to tackle these problems. A series o
f benzene derivatives that form clathrate-type complexes with the cephalosp
orin antibiotics was subjected to efficiency measurements with Cephradine a
nd enzyme inhibition studies. The best results for the antibiotic Cephradin
e were obtained with methyl 2-aminobenzoate, 2-hydroxybiphenyl and methyl 4
-hydroxybenzoate. These three compounds are environmentally and toxicologic
ally fully acceptable for application in a 'green' process.