Stability of a 1β-Methylcarbapenem Antibiotic, Meropenem (SM-7338) in Aqueous Solution

• Published in: Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 689 - 692
• Main Authors: TAKEUCHI, Yutaka, NOGUCHI, Tetsuo, SUNAGAWA, Makoto, HAMAZUME, Yukari, ISOBE, Yutaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01.04.1995; 公益社団法人日本薬学会; Maruzen
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; aqueous solution; Biological and medical sciences; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; degradation product; Drug Stability; Kinetics; Medical sciences; Meropenem; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Solutions; stability; Thienamycins - chemistry; Water; Hydrolysis; Penicillin derivatives; Antibiotic; Medium effect; Chemical stability; Lactam; pH; Kinetics; Aqueous solution; Antibacterial agent; Pyrrolidine derivatives
• ISSN: 0009-2363; 1347-5223
• DOI: 10.1248/cpb.43.689

The stability and the degradation products of 1β-methylcarbapenem, meropenem in aqueous solution were investigated. In pH 4-8 dilute solution pseudo-first-order degradation was observed, and good stability of meropenem in aqueous solution was demonstrated by the effect of 1β-methyl group against hydrolysis of β-lactam ring. As degradation products, the β-lactam hydrolyzed product and the dimer product resulting from intermolecular aminolysis of β-lactam ring by the amine of the second molecule were described.