Roche Colorado Corporation

Syntex (u.s.a.) Inc.

Jim-wah Wong

Christopher R Roberts

Humberto Bartolome Arzeno

Peter John Harrington

Eric Roy Humphreys

The present invention provides a process for producing a N-acyl-5'-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine compound of the formula: where Ris alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, or alkoxy.

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Intermediates of Formula (III) ##STR1## wherein P.sup.1 is hydrogen or an amino-protecting group, R is lower alkyl, allyl or aralkyl, and Z is hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; and Formula (VI) ##STR2## wherein P.sup.1 is hydrogen or an amino-protecting group, P.sup.2 is an amino protecting group, and Z is hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or aralkyl, are useful in a novel process for preparing the mono-L-valine ester of 2-(2-amino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-purin-9-yl)methoxy-1,3-propanediol (ganciclovir). The mono-L-valine ester of ganciclovir and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts are of value as antiviral agents with improved absorption.

Process for preparing a

Process and novel intermediates for preparing the mono-L-valine ester of 2-(2-amino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-purin-9-yl)methoxy-1,3-propanediol ganciclovir) and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The present process and monoester intermediates provide for mono-esterification by an L-valine derivative, resulting in a monocarboxylate-monovalinate which is then selectively hydrolyzed under basic or enzymatic conditions to give the monovaline ester of ganciclovir in high yield and purity. These products are of value as antiviral agents with improved absorption.

A method of preparing 2-�2-{�3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propyl!methylamino}ethyl!-6-fluoro-1-isopro pyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl methoxyacetate comprises contacting (6-fluoro-2-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)acetic acid or an activated derivative of (6-fluoro-2-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)acetic acid with �3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propyl!methylamine to form N-�3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) propyl!-2-(6-fluoro-2-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-1,2,3 ,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2- yl)-N-methylacetamide, reducing this to 2-�2-{�3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propyl!methylamino}ethyl!-6-fluoro-1-isopro pyl-1, 2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-ol, and treating the 2-�2-{�3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) propyl!-methylamino}ethyl!-6-fluoro-1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthal en-2-ol with methoxyacetic acid or an activated derivative of methoxyacetic acid. The invention is particularly applicable to the preparation of mibefradil, (1S,2S)-2-�2-{�3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propyl!methylamino}-ethyl!-6-fluoro -1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl methoxyacetate, and its dihydrochloride salt. N-�3-(1H-benzimidazol-2yl)propyl!-2-(6-fluoro-2-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-1, 2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)-N-methylacetamide is new.

Preparation of mibefradil via a naphthalenylacetic acid

A method of preparing 2-�2-{�3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propyl!methylamino}ethyl!-6-fluoro-1-isopro pyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl methoxyacetate comprises contacting 6-fluoro-1-isopropyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalen-2-one with the anion of acetonitrile in an aprotic polar solvent; contacting �3-(1H-benzitidazol-2-yl)propyl!methylamine with the thus-formed (6-fluoro-2-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)acetonit rile in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst, followed by contacting the thus-formed 2-�2-{�3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propyl!methylamino}ethyl!-6-fluoro-1-isopro pyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-ol with methoxyacetic acid or an activated derivative of methoxyacetic acid. The invention is particularly applicable to the preparation of mibefradil, (1S,2S)-2-�2-{�3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propyl!methylamino}ethyl!-6-fluoro- 1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl methoxyacetate, and its dihydrochloride salt. (6-Fluoro-2-hydroxy-1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl) acetonitrile is new.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Jim-wah Wong