Epimerization kinetics of moxalactam, its derivatives, and carbenicillin in aqueous solution

The mechanism of the epimerization of moxalactam was studied by measuring the rate of epimerization after deuteration of the C-7 side-chain chiral carbon, introduction of different substituents on the side chain, and variation of the ring system. Deuteration slowed the epimerization rate considerably. The rate was also influenced by the choice of the ring system and the substituent on the C-7 side-chain chiral carbon. When the penicillin ring system with the 2-carboxy-2-phenyl-acetamide was studied, the epimerization rate decreased indicating that the same ring system needed to be used throughout the epimerization studies. Thus, experiments were conducted with different substituents replacing the phenolic group at the C-7 side-chain chiral carbon of moxalactam. The epimerization rate decreased in the substituent order thienyl, phenyl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, the ionized form of 4-hydroxyphenyl, and ethyl. These results showed that dehydrogenation of the chiral carbon seems to be the rate-determining step and that the stronger the electron-donating effect of the substituent, the slower the epimerization rate becomes.