Carbenicillin, Carindacillin, Carfecillin, and Ticarcillin

Carbenicillin (disodium alpha-carboxybenzyl-penicillin) is a semisynthetic penicillin derived from the penicillin nucleus, 6-aminopenicillinic acid (6-APA) and can only be administered parenterally (Knudsen et al., 1967). Two carbenicillin esters, carbenicillin indanyl sodium (carindacillin) and a phenyl ester of carbenicillin (carfecillin), were also developed. These are absorbed after oral administration and rapidly hydrolyzed in the body to produce carbenicillin. The chemical formula of carbenicillin is C₁₇H₁₈N₂O₆S, and its molecular weight is 378.4. Its chemical structure is shown in Figure 9.1a. Carbenicillin is used rarely. Figure 9.1 Chemical structure of (a) carbenicillin and (b) ticarcillin. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315152110/08d8042d-9481-4a8d-8c27-9bd589f6de6b/content/fig9_1.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>