Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of a New Class of 2-(2-Aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-hydrazonoacetamido Cephalosporins.

A series of 2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-hydrazonoacetamido cephalosporins 1a-h was prepared. Whenever possible, E and Z isomers were isolated, and their relative stabilities and their interconversions were tested. The antibacterial activity was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. For compound 1c, whose Z and E forms do not interconvert rapidly, the Z form was the more active one. Among the other compounds, for which the E form is the only stable one for practical purposes, compound 1a was the most active. When compared with cefuroxime and cefotaxime, compound 1a showed slightly lower antibacterial activity but good serum level and half-life values.