A number of orally active cephalosporins and penicillins with interesting biological activity were synthesized. Two of these, 7-[[[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]glycyl]amino]deacetoxycephalosporanic acid and 7-[[2-(2,3-dihydro-5-benzofuranyl)glycyl]amino]deacetoxycephalosporanic acid were considerably more active than cephalexin in vitro and in vivo against staphylococcal and streptococcal infections [in mice].