Sterling Drug Inc.

William H Thielking

Roman R Lorenz

Edward D Parady

Apomorphine derivatives are prepared in improved yield by rearrangement of the corresponding morphine derivative in the presence of anhydrous orthophosphoric acid under a partial vacuum and hydrolysis of the resulting phosphate esters in an aqueous medium.

Morphine/apomorphine rearrangement process

Process of reacting 3-PY-aniline (I) with lower-alkyl acetoacetate (II) and tri-(lower-alkyl) orthoformate (III) to produce lower-alkyl .alpha.-(3-PY-anilinomethylene)acetoacetate (IV), heating lower-alkyl .alpha.-(3-PY-anilinomethylene)acetoacetate (IV), to produce 3-acetyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-PY-quinoline (V) which is tautomeric with 3-acetyl-4-hydroxy-7-PY-quinoline (VA), reacting V (or VA) with a lower-alkylating agent to produce 3-acetyl-1-(lower-alkyl)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-PY-quinoline (VI) and converting VI to 1-(lower-alkyl)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-PY-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid (VII), where PY is 4(or 3)-pyridyl or 4(or 3)-pyridyl having one or two lower-alkyl substituents. The compounds of formula VII are known antibacterial agents.

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Schodack, NY, United States of America

William H Thielking