Diphenylmethyl deprotection in continuous flow and its application in synthesis of β-lactam antibiotics

Diphenylmethyl (DPM) is a carboxyl protecting group which is often used in the synthesis of β-lactam antibiotics and there are many methods for its removal in industrial production. We have developed a continuous flow method to remove it for β-lactam antibiotics using cresol in microreactor. The method is a more efficient, faster and higher-yield method for removing DPM, which has been tested in several marketed β-lactam antibiotics.