WO2004065360A2

WO2004065360A2 - Piperazine derivatives and their use as synthesis intermediates

Info

Publication number: WO2004065360A2
Application number: PCT/EP2004/000399
Authority: WO
Inventors: Célal ATES; Emile Cavoy; Didier Bouvy
Original assignee: UCB Farchim SA
Current assignee: UCB Farchim SA
Priority date: 2003-01-23
Filing date: 2004-01-20
Publication date: 2004-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2005-07-23
Also published as: EP1590323A2; US20060183903A1; US7381821B2; CN100378086C; CN1742002A; AU2004205494A1; WO2004065360A3; CA2514145A1; NO330989B1; NO20053910D0; PL378027A1; NO20053910L; AU2004205494B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to new enantiomerically pure piperazine derivatives of formula (I) wherein Y represents hydroxy or a leaving group and n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, and to their use as synthesis intermediates, especially for the preparation of pharmaceutically active compounds.

Description

NEW PIPERAZINE DERjNATLNES AND THEIR USE AS SYNTHESIS INTERMEDIATES

The present invention relates to new piperazine derivatives and to their use as synthesis intermediates, especially for the preparation of pharmaceutically active compounds.

Levorotatory [2-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]-l-piperazinyl]ethoxy]acetic acid, also known by the generic name of levocetirizine, has been proven useful as therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic diseases. Said compound may be obtained from its racemic inixture by resolution of the enantiomers of cetirizine ([2-[4- [(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]-l-piperazinyl]ethoxy]acetic acid).

GB 2,225,321 describes a process for the preparation of cetirizine in the levorotatory form, dextrorotatory form or a mixture thereof comprising the hydrolysis of enantiomerically pure or racemic [2-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]-l- piperazinyl]ethoxy]-acetonitrile.

We have now found an alternative, more simple process for preparing enantiomerically pure compounds, such as levocetirizine, wherein a new enantiomerically pure intermediate is used.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to enantiomerically pure compounds of formula (I), in free form or in salt form,

wherein

Y is hydroxy or a leaving group and n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. Compounds of formula (I) include a centre of asymmetry indicated by the asterisk.

The term "enantiomerically pure compounds", as used herein, refers to compounds containing at least 90% of one enantiomer ((R) or (S)), preferably at least 98%, of the total amount of both enantiomers.

The term "leaving group", as used herein, has the same meaning to the skilled man (Advanced Organic Chemistry: reactions, mechanisms and structure - Third Edition by Jerry March, John Wiley and Sons Ed.; 1985 page 179) and represents a group which is part of and attached to a substrate molecule ; in a reaction where the substrate molecule undergoes a displacement reaction (with for example a nucleophile), the leaving group is then displaced.

Preferred leaving groups are halogen, sulfonic esters such as OSθ2-CβH -CH3 (p-toluenesulfonate), OSθ2-CβH₄-Br (p-bromobenzenesulfonate), OSθ2-CeH -Nθ2 (p- nitrobenzenesulfonate), OSO2-CH3 (methanesulfonate), OSO2-CF3 (trifluoromethanesulfonate), OSO2-C1F9 (nonafluorobutanesulfonate), OSO2-CH₂-CF3 (2,2, 2-trifluoroethanesulfonate) , OSO2- (CH2)_n-NMe³⁺ (axnmoniumalkanesulfonate) , OSO₂-F (fluorosulfonate) and OCIO3 (perchlorate).

According to a preferred embodiment, n is 2.

According to another preferred embodiment, the compounds of formula (I) are in the form of a (R) -enantiomer.

When in formula (I) Y represents a leaving group, it is preferably halogen, more preferably chlorine.

Compounds of formula QT wherein Y is hydroxy or chlorine are preferred. Compounds of formula (I) can be in free form or in salt form. In that case, dihydrochloride and dihydrobromide salts are preferred. Most preferred are dihydrochloride salts.

Compounds of formula (I) can be in the form of a solvate, which is included in the scope of the present invention. Such solvates include for example hydrates, alkoxide and the like. Compounds of formula (I) are very stable and can be used as synthesis intermediates.

Compounds of formula (I) may be obtained by resolution of the corresponding racemic mixture which may be prepared as described in GB 2,225,320. Enantiomerically pure compounds of formula (I) can be produced using industrial chiral chromatographic separation by means of commercially available chiral stationary phases. This separation can more particularly be performed using chromatographic columns sold by DAICEL Company under the trademark CHIRALPAK AD, CHIRALPAK AS and CHIRALPAK OD. Preferred are CHIRALPAK AD columns. The process can be carried out using batch, MCC (Multi Column Chromatography) or SMB (Simulated Moving Bed) technologies.

The process is particularly efficient when mobile phases (eluents) such as alcohol, i.e. methanol, or mixtures of alcohols with alkanes are used. The preferred alkanes are hexane, isohexane and heptane. More preferred is heptane. The preferred alcohols are propanol, isopropanol, ethanol and methanol. More preferred alcohols are ethanol and methanol. The preferred mixtures are: 5 % to 50 % of isopropanol in hexane or in heptane, 5 % to 95 % of ethanol in hexane or in heptane, 1 % to 10 % of methanol in isohexane, and 0 % to 10 % of methanol, ethanol or isopropanol in acetonitrile.

Compounds of formula (I) may also be obtained by reaction of enantiomerically pure l-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]piperazine, obtainable by the method described in GB 2,225,321, with a haloalkane.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to the use of compounds of general formula (I) as synthesis intermediates, especially for the preparation of pharmaceutically active compounds.

According to a first embodiment, compounds of formula (I) are used for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure cetirizine derivatives.

Hence, a further aspect of this invention is a process for the preparation of compounds of general formula (II) as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,

wherein Z¹ represents a group of formula -OR¹ or -NR²R³, in which R¹ represents hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group or an alkali metal,

R² and R³, each independently, represent hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group or - NR²R³ represents a heterocycle containing up to 7 ring members,

comprising the reaction of a compound of formula (I) in the form of a (R)-enantiomer and wherein Y is hydroxy, with a compound of formula (III)

(HI)

wherein W¹ is a halogen and Z² is as defined for Z¹.

The term "hydrocarbon group", as used herein, is defined as including monovalent radicals containing hydrogen and carbon atoms, such as straight, branched and cyclic alkyls, alkenyls, alkynyls, aryls, alkylaryls and arylalkyls containing 1-20 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms for non-cyclic alkyl, 6 to 10 carbon atoms for aryl and 3 to 8 carbon atoms for cycloalkyl, as well as combinations thereof.

The term "pharmaceutically acceptable salts", as used herein, refers to salts prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids or bases including inorganic acids and bases and organic acids and bases. Since the compounds of the present invention are basic, salts may be prepared from pharrnaceutlcally acceptable non-toxic acids including inorganic and organic salts. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts for the compounds of the present invention include salts of acetic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethenesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glutamic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic, nitric, pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, p-toluenesulfonic acid and the like.

According to a preferred embodiment of the above mentioned process, Z¹ represents a group of formula -OR¹ wherein R¹ is hydrogen or a C 1 -C4-alkyl, more preferably R¹ is hydrogen or methyl, most preferably R¹ is hydrogen. According to another preferred embodiment of the above mentioned process,

W¹ is chlorine.

According to another preferred embodiment of the above mentioned process, Z² represents a group of formula -OR¹ wherein R¹ is an alkali metal, more preferably R¹ is sodium. The reaction of a compound of formula (I) with a compound of formula (III) is generally carried out in the presence of a chemically inert solvent and in the presence of a proton acceptor such as, for example, alkali metal hydrides, alkali metal hydroxydes, alkali metal alkoxydes or alkali metals. Any solvent, such as aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, amides and alcohols of low reactivity may be used. The preferred solvent is THF.

The reaction is generally carried out at a temperature of from 0°C to the reflux temperature of the reaction mixture.

It was surprisingly found that no racemization occurs during that reaction.

According to a second embodiment, the compounds of formula (I) are used for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure compounds of general formula (TV). Hence, the present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of general formula (TV), as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,

wherein R⁴ is hydrogen or a group of formula -C(=0)Z³; Z³ represents a group of formula -OR¹' or -ΝR²'R³', in which R¹' represents hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group or an alkali metal, R^2' and R³' , each independently, represent hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group or -NR²'R³' represents a heterocycle containing up to 7 ring members, comprising the use of a compound of general formula (I) in the form of a (R)- enantiomer as synthesis intermediate. In the above mentioned process, n is preferably 2.

In the above mentioned process, R⁴ is preferably hydrogen or -C(=0)Z³ wherein Z³ is -NH_ or -OR¹' wherein R^r is a C1-C4 alkyl, more preferably methyl. Most preferably R⁴ is hydrogen or -CONH₂.

According to a first variant of this process, compounds of formula (IN) are prepared by (a) reaction of a compound of formula (V)

wherein P¹ represents a hydroxy protecting group and P² represents hydrogen or an axnine protecting group, -with the proviso that P¹ and P² may be linked to form a single protecting group when P² is not hydrogen, with a compound of formula (I) wherein Y represents a leaving group especially with a compound of formula (I) wherein Y is halogen, most preferably Cl, and (b) a deprotection step.

The term "protecting group", as used herein, refers to a substituent that is commonly employed to block or protect one or more functionalities while carrying out reactions with other functional groups on the compound. For example, an "amine protecting group" is a substituent attached to an amino group that blocks or protects the amino functionality in the compound. Suitable amine protecting groups include for example optionally substituted groups of formula -C(=0)OR or -R wherein R represents alkyl, aryl or a combination thereof. Similarly, a "hydroxy protecting group" refers to a substituent of a hydroxy group that blocks or protects the hydroxy functionality. Suitable hydroxy protecting groups include for example optionally substituted groups of formula -C(=0) OR', -R', -C(=0)R', -C(=0)NR'R" or -CR'OR", wherein R' and R" each independently represent alkyl, aryl or combinations thereof.

In case P¹ and P² are linked, the protecting group is preferably dialkylmethylene, more preferably isopropylene (dimethylmethylene). Preferably, the compound of formula (V) is

Compounds of formula (V) may be prepared by reacting a compound of formula (VI) wherein R⁵ is as defined for R⁴ and W² is halogen with a compound of formula (VII), for example under Sonogashira or related conditions (ref. : Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2002, 41, 4176-4211).

The reaction is generally carried out in the presence of organic or inorganic proton acceptor such as tiietj ylainine or di-isopropylamine, and solvent such as ethylacetate, DMF, MTBE (methyl terbutyl ether), i-propylacetate, toluene, water or a mixture thereof. Compounds of formula (VII) can for example be obtained by reacting a compound of formula (VIII) with the appropriate reagent to introduce the required protecting groups P¹ and P².

Compounds of formula (Vila) are preferably obtained by reacting a compound of formula (VIII) with acetone, 2,2-dimethoxypropane or methoxypropane, in the presence of acid, preferably sulfuric acid.

The deprotection of the compound obtained from the reaction of compound (V) with compound (I) can be carried out under acidic or basic conditions depending on the nature of the protecting group.

According to a second variant of the process for the preparation of compounds of general formula (TV) this process comprises the steps of:

(a) reacting a compound of formula (I) wherein Y is a leaving group, preferably halogen, and more preferably Cl, with a compound of formula (VI) and

(b) reacting the compound thus obtained with a compound of formula (VII), preferably

(Vila), or (VIII).

When a compound of formula (VII) or (Vila) is used in this process, the process usually contains a deprotection step, such as described here above. The reaction step (a) of a compound of formula (I) with a compound of formula

(VI) generally gives rise to intermediates of formula (IX)

In this variant of the process, R5 is preferably H.

International patent application WO 00/58295 describes the synthesis of compounds of formula (VIII). This patent application also describes 1,4 substituted piperazines such as compounds of formula (IN) having lipoxygenase inhibition properties as well as antihistaminergic properties. However, it does not include nor suggest the use of enantiomerically pure compounds of formula (I) or the use of compounds of formula (Va), (Vila) or (IX) as synthesis intermediates for the preparation of compounds of formula (TV).

The present invention therefore also relates to synthesis intermediates of formulae (Va), (Vila) and (IX).

The use of compounds of general formula (I) as synthesis intermediates permits to produce piperazine derivatives of formula (II) and (TV) with high yield and purity, using a short and simple route. Surprisingly, no racemization of the intermediate compounds occurs under these harsh basic conditions.

The present invention will be better understood from the following examples which only serve to illustrate the invention and therefore should not be taken to limit the scope thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that routine variations and modifications of the following examples can be made without exceeding the spirit or scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Preparation of levocetirizine (compound 2a, (R) -enantiomer of compound of formula II wherein n=2, Z¹=-OH)

1.1 Preparation of f2-f4-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyll-l-piperazinvnethanol dihydrochloride (racemic mixture, compound la dihydrochloride): 50.1 g of sodium carbonate, 95.6 g of l-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]-piperazine, 600 ml isopropanol, 45 g of 2-chloroethanol and 55 g of potassium iodide are refluxed for 24 hours. After cooling to 20-25°C, salts are filtered and rinsed with isopropanol. A isopropanol-HCl solution is dropwise added to the mechanically stirred filtrate, causing the precipitation of compound la dihydrochloride. The suspension is filtered and the cake is dried under vacuum at 50°C. Thus, 108 g of compound la dihydrochloride are obtained (Yield: 80 %; Purity: > 99,0 %, m.p.: 158°C).

1.2 Preparation of compound la (free form): 265 g of sodium carbonate and then 500g of compound la dihydrochloride are added to a stirred mixture of toluene (2,51) and water (2,51). The reaction mixture is heated to reflux. After cooling to 25°C, the toluene layer is separated and concentrated under reduced pressure to dryness to leave compound la free base as a liquid (385 g; Yield: 95%).

1.3 Preparation of compound lb (compound of formula I in free form wherein n=2, Y=OH, (R) -enantiomer):

The chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of compound la such as obtained in 1.2 is performed using 8 columns of 4.8 x 11.3 cm for 1 kg of chiral stationary phase CHIRALPAK AD (DAICEL) with methanol as the eluent.

The chromatographic parameters are: k'l (capacity factor of the R - enantiomer) = 0.525 k'2 (capacity factor of the S - enantiomer) = 1.111

Alpha (selectivity factor) = 2.118 Resolution = 2.164

Temperature = 23°C

Purity of (R) -enantiomer is 99.5 %; ee = 99 %

1.4 Preparation of compound lb dihydrochloride: lOOg of compound lb in free form is dissolved in 500ml of isopropanol by stirring. In another vessel, excess HC1 gas is bubbled through a solution of isopropanol (500ml). The two solutions are rnixed at 20-25°C with a mechanical agitator, which causes the precipitation of compound lb dihydrochloride. The suspension is filtered and the cake dried under vacuum at 50°C to yield 98g (80% yield; >99.0 % purity) of compound lb dihydrochloride. 1.5 Preparation of compound 2a dihydrochloride:

To a stirred solution of compound lb dihydrochloride (80 g) in THF (800 ml) at room temperature is dropwise added a rnixture of potassium tert butoxide (77,8 g) in THF (300ml) then sodium chloroacetate (34,6 g) is added in one portion. The reaction is heated to reflux overnight, then cooled to room temperature and finally concentrated to dryness. The solid residues are dissolved in water (500 ml); the solution is acidified with concentrated HC1 to pH=4,8, and then extracted twice with dichloromethane (250ml). After evaporation of the dichloromethane, the residue is taken up in acetone (400ml). To this solution heated at 55°C is added a solution of HC1 (10 g) in acetone (100ml). After 30 minutes the reaction is cooled to 0°C and maintained at 0°C overnight. The precipitate is filtered, washed with acetone and dried under vacuum at 50 °C, providing 37 g of compound 2a dihydrochloride. Purity : > 96 % ee

Example 2: Preparation of compound 4a (compound of general formula IN wherein n=2, R⁴=-COΝH₂)

2.1 Preparation of compound VIII:

Reaction between commercially available 3-butyn-l-ol and methanesulfonyl chloride is performed in presence of triethylamine at 0-10 °C, under vigorous stirring. As soon as the reaction is complete, hydrochloric salts of toethylarnine are filtered off and washed with toluene. The collected organic phases are washed successively with aqueous NaHCOβ solution, aqueous HC1 solution, and finally with demineralized water. The organic phase is then evaporated under vacuum to give crude 3-butyn-l-yl methanesulfonate ester as an oil (approx. 90 % yield).

Reaction between 3-butyn-l-yl methanesulfonate ester and an excess of hydroxylamine is carried out in aqueous solution in presence of methyl alcohol. When the reaction is complete, methyl alcohol is evaporated under vacuum. The solution is washed with toluene. The aqueous phase is then washed with ethyl acetate to extract N~(3-butyn-l-yl) hydroxylamine. The organic phases containing N-(3-butyn-l-yl) hydroxylarnine are collected in order to be concentrated and then directly used into the next step.

EtOAc solution of N-(3-butyn-l-yl) hydroxylamine obtained from the previous step is directly used in the next step. Into the solution are added potassium cyanate previously dissolved in demineralized water. The rnixture is cooled down to 0 °C, and under vigorous stirring, HC1 (37% aqueous solution) is slowly added. The reaction medium is then heated to 20 °C and after decantation, the two phases are separated. Sodium chloride is added to the aqueous phase under stirring to saturation and the aqueous phase is washed with EtOAc. All the EtOAc phases are collected and evaporated under vacuum to dryness to give crude N- (3-butyn-l-yl) N-hydroxyurea (compound VIII).

2.2 Preparation of compound Vila:

Crude compound VIII is dissolved in a mixture of acetone and 2,2-dimethoxypropane. Sulfuric acid is slowly added and the reaction rnixture is heated at reflux. As soon as the reaction is complete, the mixture is cooled down, potassium carbonate is added and the mixture is stirred overnight and then filtered. The filter cake is washed with acetone. The combined organic phases are evaporated under vacuum. The evaporation is stopped when condensation is no longer observed. Water and acetone are added and the medium is maintained at 40 °C for a while. The rnixture is then cooled down to 0 °C and stirred at that temperature. Compound Vila crystallizes as a white solid and is filtered. After filtration, the cake is washed with water and toluene. The solid is then dried under vacuum to give compound Vila (58 % yield, > 98 area % purity by HPLC).

and P¹P²=isopropylene): The reactor is flushed with N₂ prior to charging material. 5-iodosalicylate methyl ester, compound Vila, PdfPPHshCk, Cul, EtOAc, water, toethylamine and tetra butyl ammonium bromide are vigorously stirred. The solid compound Vb is filtered, washed with water, and then dried to give a white to off-white powder (77% yield, > 98% purity).

2.4 Preparation of compound Va:

Ammonolysis of compound Vb to give compound Va is carried out under pressure in methanol, isopropanol, tert-amyl alcohol or other pentyl alcohol at a temperature between 25 °C and 40 °C. As soon as the reaction is complete, the excess of ammonia is removed and the reaction rnixture is slightly concentrated in order to initiate the precipitation of the product. The suspension is then cooled down to 0 °C to complete the precipitation of compound Va. After filtration of crude product, the cake is washed with cooled alcohol. In order to get a high purity material (> 99.0 %), compound Va is then recrystallized in isopropanol. 2.5 Preparation of compound lc (compound of formula I dihydrochloride salt or free base wherein n=2 and Y=C1, (R) -enantiomer):

82 g of compound lb prepared as described in Example 1, 11 of toluene, 45 g of thionyl chloride and 5 g of dimethyl forrnamide are successively added to a vessel. The mixture is stirred at reflux for 48 hours then cooled to room temperature. It is then filtered, washed with toluene and then dried under vacuum at 50°C to give the compound lc dihydrochloride salt (Yield>90%). 50g of the filtered solid is stirred in a rnixture of toluene and water and sodium carbonate (25 g) is added. The toluene layer is separated and evaporated to dryness, leaving compound lc free base as a thick liquid (Purity: > 99% ).

2.6 Preparation of compound 4a:

A rnixture of compound Va, compound lc free base and K2CO3 are stirred in isopropanol or in pentyl alcohol at a temperature between 30 °C and 40 °C. The reaction mixture is cooled down to room temperature and filtered. The filter cake is washed with isopropanol or pentyl alcohol.

The deprotection step is carried out at room temperature, in a rnixture of HOAc, H₂SO₄ and water. As soon as the reaction is complete, the solvent is evaporated. The residual oil is dissolved in EtOAc and the solution is washed with saturated aqueous NaHC0₃ solution. The EtOAc layer is then washed twice with saturated NaCl aqueous solution. The solution is concentrated (half of the EtOAc is evaporated) using a hot water bath. The solution is stirred and allowed to cool to room temperature, and then cooled down to 0 °C. The solid is filtered, washed with EtOAc and dried to give compound 4a as a white to off-white solid (70 % yield, > 99 % purity). Purity : > 96 % ee.

2.7 Preparation of compound 4a fumarate salt:

100 g of compound 4a and 21 g of fumaric acid are dissolved in a mixture of ethyl acetate and ethanol at reflux. The solution is allowed to cool to 5 °C and stirred during 12 hours. The precipitate is filtered and dried under vacuum to give 102 g of compound 4a fumarate salt (Yield: 84 %). The salt formation is also efficiently carried out in solvents such as ethanol, THF, mixtures of ethyl acetate/ethanol, THF/methanol or THF/ethanoL

Example 3: Preparation of compound 4b (compound of formula IV wherein n=2 and R⁴=H) 3.1 Preparation of compound 9a oxalate (compound of formula IX wherein n=2, R⁵=H and W²=I):

To a suspension of compound lc dihydrochloride salt (102.9g) prepared as described in Example 2, in toluene (820ml) and water (360ml) is added iodophenol (59.01g), potassium carbonate (118. Og) and potassium iodide (4.05g ) then the mixture is heated to 95°C for 24 hours, then cooled and transferred to a separating funnel. The aqueous layer is removed and the organic layer transferred to a 2L round bottomed flask. A solution of oxalic acid (24.15g) in ethyl acetate (340ml) is added affording a white precipitate. The precipitate is collected by suction filtration and washed with ethyl acetate to afford compound 9a oxalate as an off-white powder (149.56g, quantitative yield).

3.2 Preparation of compound 4b in free form:

To a mixture of compound 9a oxalate (lOOg) in toluene-THF (1: 1, 1000ml) and water (300ml) is added diisopropylamine (79ml), PdCl₂(PPh₃)2 (1128mg) and Cul (459mg), then compound NIII such as prepared in Example 2 (26.8g). After 24 hours at room temperature, the two layers are separated and to the organic layer is added activated charcoal (50g) and the rnixture is stirred overnight. The contents are filtered through a short pad of celite and the pad is washed with THF. The combined organic filtrates are then concentrated in vacuo at 45°C to give an amorphous solid (quantitative yield).

3.3 Preparation of compound 4b malate salt:

Compound 4b in free form is dissolved with L-malic acid (23.7g) in hot ethyl acetate (1L). The solution is allowed to cool to 10°C and stirred overnight. The precipitate is filtered and then washed with EtOAc and finally dried under vacuum to give 87g (81% yield) of an off-white powder which is pure by TLC, HPLC and *H ΝMR. The salt formation is also efficiently carried out in common solvents such as ethanol, THF and mixtures of ethyl acetate/ethanol or THF/methanol or THF/ ethanol.

Claims

1. An enantiomerically pure compound of general formula (I) in free form or in salt form

wherein

Y represents hydroxy or a leaving group and n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

2. A compound according to claim 1, wherein n is 2.

3. A compound according to claim 1 or 2 in the form of a (R) -enantiomer and wherein Y is hydroxy.

4. A compound according to claim 1 or 2 in the form of a (R) -enantiomer and wherein Y is a leaving group.

5. A compound according to claim 4 wherein Y is Cl.

6. Use of a compound according to any of the preceding claims as synthesis intermediate.

7. A process for the preparation of compounds of general formula (II) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,

wherein

Z¹ represents -OR¹ or -NR²R³, in which R¹ represents hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group or an alkali metal, R² and R³, each independently, represent hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group or -NR²R³ represents a heterocycle containing up to 7 ring members, and n is as defined in claim 1,

comprising the reaction of a compound according to claim 3 with a compound of formula (III)

(III)

wherein W¹ is a halogen and Z² is as defined for Z¹.

8. A process for the preparation of compounds of general formula (TV) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,

wherein R⁴ represents hydrogen or a group of formula -C(=0)Z³; Z³ represents a group of formula -OR^1' or -NR^2'R^3', in which R¹' represents hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group or an alkali metal, R²' and R³',each independently, represent hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group or -NR²'R³' represents a heterocycle containing up to 7 ring members, and n is as defined in claim 1 , wherein a compound according to any of claims 3 to 5 is used as synthesis intermediate.

9. The process according to claim 8 wherein n is 2.

10. The process according to claim 8 or 9 comprising a) reaction of a compound according to claim 4 or 5 with a compound of formula (V)

wherein P¹ represents a hydroxy protecting group and P² represents hydrogen or an amine protecting group , with the proviso that P¹ and P² may be linked to form a single protecting group, and R⁴ is as defined in claim 8, and b) a deprotection step.

11. The process according to claim 10 wherein the compound of formula (V) is

12. The process according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the compound of formula (V) is prepared by reaction of a compound of formula (VII) wherein P¹ and P² are as defined in claim 10, with a compound of formula (VI) wherein R⁵ is as defined for R⁴ and W² is halogen

13. The process according to claim 8 or 9, comprising a) reaction of a compound according to claim 4 with a compound of formula (VI) as defined in claim 12, and b) reaction of the compound thus obtained with a compound of formula (Nil) as defined in claim 12, (Vila) or (VIII)

14. Synthesis intermediates of formula (Va), (Vila) and (IX)

wherein n is as defined in claim 1, R⁵ and W² is as defined in claim 12.