Abstract A synthetic scheme extensively utilizing silylation-desilylation reactions to achieve the total synthesis of 2, 6-substituted carbapenem antibiotics from readily available azetidinones is reported. An epimeric pair of new 2, 6-substituted carbapenems,(±)-2- cyclopropyl-6-(1′-hydroxyethyl)-1-carbapen-2-em-3-carboxylic acids were synthesized.