Merck + Co., Inc.

James J Bergan

Ralph P Volante

Daniel Richard Sidler

James M McNamara

Mahadevan Bhupathy

Edward J Grabowski

Paul J Reider

Joseph S Amato

David L Hughes

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) or a sodium salt thereof

Process for the preparation of leukotriene antagonists

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) or a sodium salt thereof ##STR1## wherein HET is 7-chloroquinolin-2-yl or 6,7-difluoroquinolin-2-yl, which comprises: reacting the dilithium dianion of 1-(mercaptomethyl)cyclopropaneacetic acid with a compound of formula (II) ##STR2## wherein HET is as defined above and L is arylsulfonyl or alkylsulfonyl. The invention further provides the dicyclohexylamine salt of a compound of formula (I).

Process for the preparation of leukotriene anatgonists

Disclosed is a process for preparing the R and S enantiomers of a compound of the formula; ##STR1## which comprises; (1) reacting an enzyme with a prochiral diester of the formula ##STR2## where M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 are the same, to produce a chiral monoester of the compound of formula II;

Enzymic process for preparing leukotriene antagonists

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Piscataway, NJ, United States of America

James J Bergan