GB998290A - Method and compositions for enhancing the utilization of iron by mammals - Google Patents

Abstract

Compounds of the formula <FORM:0998290/C2/1> where A is a phenylene or naphthylene radical which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or two halogen atoms or one or two alkyl groups and where the OH group attached to each A is ortho to the methylene bridge connecting A to N, or alkali metal (including ammonium) salts of such compounds, are prepared by reacting formaldehyde with ethylenediaminediacetic acid or the corresponding alkali metal salt to form the dimethylol derivative which is then condensed with the appropriate phenol to form the desired product. Iron chelates of these compounds, which are useful medicinally (see Division A5), can be obtained by adding to an aqueous methanol solution of such a compound an aqueous solution of an iron salt, e.g. ferric chloride. An example illustrates the preparation of the disodium salt of N,N1-bis-(2 - hydroxy - 5 - methylbenzyl) - ethylene-diaminediacetic acid and the formation of an iron chelate therefrom. The Specification also describes the preparation of the disodium salt of N,N1-ethylene-bis-(a - imino - 2 - hydroxy - 5 - methylphenylacetic acid) from the corresponding free acid, the latter being obtained according to the method described in Specification 782,928, and the formation of an iron chelate from the disodium salt in a manner similar to that described above.ALSO:Compositions for use in administering iron to mammals comprise a solution, in a pharmacologically acceptable vehicle, of either an iron chelate derived from a compound of the formula <FORM:0998290/A5-A6/1> wherein A is a phenylene or naphthylene radical either unsubstituted or substituted by one or two halogen atoms or one or two alkyl groups and in which the OH group attached to each A is ortho to the methylene bridge connecting A to N, or a water-soluble, e.g. sodium, potassium or ammonium, salt thereof, or an iron chelate derived from a compound of the formula <FORM:0998290/A5-A6/2> wherein B is a phenylene or naphthylene radical having the OH group ortho to the carboxymethylene group connecting B to N and optionally containing one or two alkyl groups or one or two halogen atoms, or a water-soluble, e.g. sodium, potassium or ammonium, salt thereof. The vehicle may be mammalian milk or orange juice when the compositions are administered orally, or water, peanut oil, sesame oil or polyvinyl pyrrolidone for parenteral administration. The compositions may also be converted to dried, storable forms, e.g. by spray drying, which are reconstitutable by the addition of water.