The synthesis of the b-lactamase indicators Cefesone [(6R,7R)-3-(2,4-dinitrostyryl)-7-(phenylacetamido)ceph-3-em-4-carboxylic acid] and Nitrocefin [(6R,7R)-3-(2,4-dinitrostyryl)-7-(2thienylacetamido)ceph-3-em-4-carboxylic acid] from tert-butyl (1S,6R,7R)-3-bromomethyl-1-oxo-7-(phenylacetamido)ceph-3-em-4carboxylate is reported. Phosphonylation of the latter compound with triphenylphosphine gave the corresponding phosphonium derivative in 93% yield. Reduction followed by Wittig coupling with 2,4-dinitrobenzaldehyde gave a 1:12 mixture of E-and Z-isomers in 83% yield. The tert-butyl protecting group was removed with titanium tetrachloride to give Cefesone as the pure crystalline E-isomer in 63% yield. De-acylation was achieved by enzymatic hydrolysis in 77% yield. Finally the 2-thienylacetyl side chain was introduced to give crystalline Nitrocefin in 67% yield. Downloaded by: University of Pittsburgh. Copyrighted material. 1665 (CO, amide), 1525 cm -1 (NO 2 ). MS (DCI): m/z = 584.2 (MNH 4 + ). 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ; 360 MHz): d = 1.53 (s, 9H, tert-butyl), 2.75 (d, 1H, J = 18.2 Hz, H 2 ), 3.25 (d, 1H, J = 18.2 Hz, H 2 ), 3.63 (ABq, 2H, J = 15.9 Hz, ArCH 2 ), 4.91 (d, 1H, J = 4.9 Hz, H 6 ), 5.84 (dd, 1H, J 6.7 = 4.9 Hz, J 7,NH = 9.1 Hz, H 7 ), 6.02 (d, 1H, J = 9.1 Hz, NH), 6.84 (ABq, 2H, J = 11.9 Hz, CH=CH), 7.3 (m, 5H, ArH), 7.57 (d, 1H, J = 8.6 Hz, ArH), 8.88 (d, 1H, J = 2.3 Hz, ArH).(6R,7R)-3-(2,4-Dinitrostyryl)-7-(phenylacetamido)ceph-3-em-4carboxylic Acid, E-Isomer (4): A stirred solution of 3 (67.41 g, purity 8% E-isomer, 81% Z-isomer, 105.9 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2 (1685 mL) was cooled to -25 °C. TiCl 4 (53 mL, 482 mmol) was added in 10 min and the temperature was brought to 0°C. After 1.75 h, chilled 2 M HCl (1685 mL) was added at such a rate that the temperature remained under 10 °C. The organic phase was separated and extracted with 2 M HCI (2 ´1685 mL), H 2 O (1685 mL) and brine (1685 mL). The organic phase was concentrated under reduced pressure to give an orange foam. Crude 4 thus obtained was crystallized by dissolving in acetone (1350 mL) at 65 °C and adding H 2 O (675 mL). Crystallization was allowed to proceed for 16 h at 0°C and the crystals were collected by filtration. Recrystallization of the product was performed by dissolving the material in acetone/ HOAc (2:1) at 53 °C, removing the solvent (1700 mL) by evaporation under reduced pressure, and stirring for 16 h at 20 °C. Crystals were collected by filtration, washed with HOAc (300 mL) and Et 2 O (250 mL), and dried under vacuum at 45 °C to give 34.33 g (purity 99% E-isomer, 66.6 mmol; 63%) of 4 as yellow crystals. IR (KBr): n = 3300 (NH), 1780 (CO, b-lactam), 1715 (CO, amide), 1625 (CO, carboxylic acid), 1525 cm -1 (NO 2 ). MS (DCI): m/z = 528.0 (MNH 4 + ). 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 /DMSO-d 6, 1:2; 360 MHz): d = 3.50/3.58 (ABq, 2H, J = 14.1 Hz, ArCH 2 ), 3.62/3.77 (ABq, 2H, J = 17.5 Hz, H 2 ), 5.05 (d, 1H, J = 4.9 Hz, H 6 ), 5.72 (dd, 1H, J 6,7 = 4.9 Hz, J 7,NH = 8.3 Hz, H 7 ), 7.3 (m, 6H, ArH + CH=C), 7.63 (d, 1H, J = 16.1 Hz, C=CH), 7.82 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz, ArH),...