Bristol-myers Squibb Compnay

Lee J Silverberg

Purushotham Vemishetti

John J Usher

John L Dillon, Jr

Etoposide phosphate is prepared by coupling dibenzyl 4'-demethyl-4-epipodophyllotoxin-4'-phosphate with 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4,6-O-ethylidene-.alpha.,.beta.-D-glucopyranose in a solvent and subsequently removing the protecting groups. The tetra-benzyl protected etoposide phosphate is recrystallized from methanol or directly crystallized from acetonitrile by adding methanol to yield substantially the pure C-1'-.beta. form. The benzyl protecting groups are simultaneously removed by hydrogenation to produce etoposide phosphate in high yields. In a further embodiment, etoposide phosphate is treated with a phosphatase enzyme to yield etoposide.

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Fayetteville, NY, United States of America

Lee J Silverberg