Sulfazecin, a novel beta-lactam antibiotic of bacterial origin. Isolation and chemical characterization.

Sulfazecin, a new water-soluble acidic antibiotic, which is active against Gram-negative bacteria, was isolated as crystals from the culture broth of Pseudomonas acidophila G-6302 by use of anion exchange resin and activated charcoal. The molecular formula of sulfazecin was determined to be C12H20N4O9S from physicochemical data. The IR and NMR spectra suggested that this antibiotic has a beta-lactam ring, methoxyl and sulfonate groups. On acidic hydrolysis it gave D-alanine and D-glutamic acid. These chemical and physicochemical data indicated that sulfazecin is a new beta-lactam antibiotic.