Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a hydroxy-protecting group; R.sup.2 is alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, optionally substituted phenyl or optionally substituted phenoxy; R.sup.3 is optionally substituted pyridyl, optionally substituted quinolyl or phenyl group which has a substituent of formula --CYNR.sup.5 R.sup.6, where Y is oxygen or sulfur, and R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each alkyl, aryl or aralkyl, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 and the nitrogen to which they are attached together form a heterocyclic group; is R.sup.4 hydrogen or an amino-protecting group; and Z is sulfur or oxygen; are valuable intermediates in the preparation of carbapenem compounds and retain a desirable configuration during conversion to such carbapenem compounds. Penem and carbapenem compounds having a group of formula --SA' are prepared from a corresponding compound having a substituted thio, sulfinyl or sulfonyl group at this position by reaction with a compound A'SH (where A' is an organic group) in the presence of a salt of a metal of Group II or III of the Periodic Table.
化合物的式子(I):##STR1##
其中:R.sup.1为氢或羟基保护基;R.sup.2为烷基,烷氧基,卤素,可选择取代的苯基或可选择取代的苯氧基;R.sup.3为可选择取代的
吡啶基,可选择取代的
喹啉基或具有式子--CYNR.sup.5 R.sup.6的取代基的苯基,其中Y为氧或
硫,而R.sup.5和R.sup.6均为烷基,芳基或芳基烷基,或R.sup.5和R.sup.6以及它们所连接的氮共同形成一个杂环基团;R.sup.4为氢或
氨基保护基;Z为
硫或氧;是制备碳青霉烯化合物的有价值的中间体,并在转化为碳青霉烯化合物期间保持理想的构型。具有式子--
SA'的青霉烯和碳青霉烯化合物是通过与具有该位置的取代
硫,亚砜或磺酰基的相应化合物在周期表第二或第三组
金属的盐存在下与化合物A'SH(其中A'是有机基团)反应制备的。