A facile synthesis of 7-amino-3-desacetoxycephalosporanic acid derivatives by indium-mediated reduction of 3-iodomethylcephems in aqueous media

An efficient reductive conversion of 3-iodomethylcephalosporin and 3-acetoxymethylcephalosporin derivatives mediated by indium into the corresponding 3-methylcephems and 3-methylenecephams in moderate to good yields has been developed in an aqueous system. 3-Methylenecephams are converted into the corresponding 3-methylcephems under previously reported basic conditions quantitatively.