A series of 1β-methyl carbapenems substituted at the 2-position with lipophilic, acyclic and cyclic (sulfonamido) methyl groups was prepared and evaluated for activity against resistant gram-positive bacteria. From these studies, the 1, 8-naphthosultamyl group emerged as a novel, PBP2a-binding, anti-MRSA pharmacophore worthy of further exploration.
