Bicyclomycin is a polar metabolite first isolated from Streptomyces sapporonensis in 1972, with activity against Gram negative bacteria. The selective Gram negative profile of bicyclomycin is rare among Streptomyces metabolites, and in an effort to overcome its poor in vivo absorption, the benzoate ester was prepared by reaction with the more exposed primary alcohol. Bicyclomycin benzoate has limited use as a veterinary antibiotic.