Synthetic routes to a 1-hydroxy-1-carbacephem (1), by structure-activity considerations an analogue of potential antibiotic activity, are described. Synthesis of a substituted pyridine for reduction to a cyclic enamine and subsequent annellation to a B-lactam were not successful. An acyclic inline precursor of (1) was prepared but did not yield a beta-lactam by an established annellation procedure. Approaches to a cyclic amine potentially convertible into (1) are described
