Cefpirome was synthesized in 37.7% overall yield from 3-chloromethyl-7-phenylacetylamino cephalosporanic acid p-methoxybenzyl ester (GCLE) by sequential substitution of C-3 chloride with iodide and 2, 3-cyclopentenopyridine, followed by a one-pot procedure including deprotection of carboxyl group, hydrolysis of 7-phenylacetamido, and reaction with 2-mercaptobenzothiazolyl-(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-methoxyiminoacetate (MAEM). ...