Novel cephalosporin derivatives possessing a substituted cinnamoyl moiety at the 7 beta-position. Synthesis, structural characterization and antibacterial activity of 3-acetoxymethyl cephalosporin derivatives.

Twenty 3-acetoxymethyl cephalosporin derivatives, with various cinnamoyl (3-phenyl-2-propenoyl) substituted groups at the 7beta-position, were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity in vitro. Some of these cephalosporin derivatives showed good selective activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Although substitution on the aromatic ring of cinnamoyl moiety generally reduced antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus sp. and Enterococcus sp., a hydroxy group at the para position, and particularly ortho, para di-chloro substitution, improved the activity against methicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Substitution on the double bond alpha position of the cinnamoyl moiety also affected the antimicrobial activity. A cyano group attached to this position increased activity against both negative coagulase Staphylococcus and Enterococcus sp. and extended the antibacterial spectrum towards Gram-negative bacteria.