Synthesis of 6-exomethylenepenams as beta-lactamase inhibitors

The 6,6-dibromopenam (6) was treated with CH3MgBr and carbaldehyde 5 to afford the hydroxy compound 7, which was reacted with acetic anhydride to give acetoxy compound 8. The deacetobromination of 8 with zinc and acetic acid gave 6-exomethylenepenams, E-isomer 10 and Z-isomer 9, which was oxidized to sulfone 11 by m-CPBA. The p-methoxybenzyl compounds were deprotected by AlCl3 and neutralized to give the sodium salts 12, 13 and 14.