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

Abstract

The stability and the degradation products of l ß-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 1 ß-Mnethyl group against hydrolysis of ß-lactam ring. As degradation products, the ß-lactam hydrolyzed product and the dimer product resulting from intermolecular aminolysis of ß-lMactam ring bv the amine of the second molecule were described. © 1995, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.