1995 Volume 43 Issue 4 Pages 689-692
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.