Process for the Preparation of Faropenem

A process for the preparation of a hydrate of an alkali metal salt of faropenem, wherein the process comprises,

• a) treating the compound of Formula II,
• wherein R1 is selected from a group comprising of optionally substituted C1-C8 alkyl, optionally substituted C3-C8 alkenyl, optionally substituted C7-C19 aralkyl, or optionally substituted C6-C12 aryl, with an alkali metal salt of a substituted or unsubstituted C5-10 carboxylic acid and a catalytic amount of a palladium complex in the presence of an organic solvent;
• b) treating the reaction mixture of step a) with water and a water miscible solvent,
• c) isolating a hydrate of an alkali metal salt of faropenem from the reaction mass thereof,
• wherein water is not removed from the reaction mixture in step b) or c).