| abstract |
The present invention relates to carbapenems and provides a compound of the formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or in vivo hydrolysable ester thereof wherein: R<SUP>1 </SUP>is 1 -hydroxyethyl, 1 -fluoroethyl or hydroxymethyl; R<SUP>2 </SUP>is hydrogen or C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkyl; R<SUP>3 </SUP>is hydrogen or C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkyl; R<SUP>4 </SUP>and R<SUP>5 </SUP>are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, halo, cyano, C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkyl, nitro, hydroxy, carboxy, C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkoxy, C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkoxycarbonyl, aminosulphonyl, C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkylaminosulphonyl, di-C<SUB>1-4</SUB>-alkylaminosulphonyl, carbamoyl, C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkylcarbamoyl, di-C<SUB>1-4 </SUB>alkylcarbamoyl, trifluoromethyl, sulphonic acid, amino, C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkylamino, di-C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkylamino, C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkanoylamino, C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkanoyl(<U STYLE="SINGLE">N-C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkyl)amino, C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkanesulphonamido and C<SUB>1-4</SUB>alkylS(O)<SUB>n</SUB>- wherein n is zero; one or two: with the proviso that there is no hydroxy or carboxy substituent in a position ortho to the link to -NR<SUP>3</SUP>-. Processes for their preparation, intermediates in their preparation, their use as therapeutic agents and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. |