Ceftibuten: Development of a Commercial Process Based on Cephalosporin C. Part IV. Pilot-Plant Scale Electrochemical Reduction of 3-Acetoxymethyl-7(R)-glutaroylaminoceph-3-em-4-carboxylic Acid 1(S)-Oxide

This contribution describes the operation of a pilot plant for the production of 3-exomethylene-7( R )-glutaroylaminocepham-4-carboxylic acid 1( S )-oxide ( 4a ) by the electrochemical reduction of 3-acetoxymethyl-7( R )-glutaroylaminoceph-3-em-4-carboxylic acid 1( S )-oxide ( 3a ). This conversion is a key step in a new process for the production of Ceftibuten ( 1 ). The scale-up of the electrochemical reduction was demonstrated using a commercial flow-cell. The use of a novel type of extended-area tin cathode, which had been shown on a laboratory scale to produce significant improvements in the process, was successfully implemented in an ICI FM21-SP commercial-scale electrochemical reactor.