WO2010122343A1 - A process for the preparation of frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate and their synthetic intermediates - Google Patents

A process for the preparation of frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate and their synthetic intermediates Download PDF

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WO2010122343A1
WO2010122343A1 PCT/GB2010/050658 GB2010050658W WO2010122343A1 WO 2010122343 A1 WO2010122343 A1 WO 2010122343A1 GB 2010050658 W GB2010050658 W GB 2010050658W WO 2010122343 A1 WO2010122343 A1 WO 2010122343A1
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Prior art keywords
frovatriptan
process according
tetrahydrocarbazole
preparation
carboxamido
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PCT/GB2010/050658
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French (fr)
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Vinayak Govind Gore
Maheshkumar Gadkar
Anilkumar Tripathi
Viraj Mankar
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Generics [Uk] Limited
Mylan India Private Limited
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Priority to AU2010240641A priority Critical patent/AU2010240641A1/en
Priority to CA2756876A priority patent/CA2756876A1/en
Publication of WO2010122343A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010122343A1/en

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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07DHETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D209/00Heterocyclic compounds containing five-membered rings, condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom
    • C07D209/56Ring systems containing three or more rings
    • C07D209/80[b, c]- or [b, d]-condensed
    • C07D209/82Carbazoles; Hydrogenated carbazoles
    • C07D209/88Carbazoles; Hydrogenated carbazoles with hetero atoms or with carbon atoms having three bonds to hetero atoms with at the most one bond to halogen, e.g. ester or nitrile radicals, directly attached to carbon atoms of the ring system
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61PSPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P29/00Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the active pharmaceutical ingredient frovatriptan and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
  • it relates to efficient processes for the preparation of frovatriptan and its synthetic intermediates, which are amenable to large scale commercial production and provide the required products with improved yield and purity.
  • the process for obtaining frovatriptan base and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof disclosed in US 5616603 is shown in Scheme 1.
  • the first step involves tetrahydrocarbazole ring formation, via a Fischer Indole synthesis, involving the reaction of 4- cyanophenylhydrazine hydrochloride and 4-benzyloxy-cyclohexanone in acetic acid to afford 3-benzyloxy-6-cyano-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole, which was isolated after column chromatography.
  • This product was hydrolysed with sodium hydroxide to give 3-hydroxy-6- cyano-1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole, which was further treated with tosyl chloride in the presence of pyridine to yield S-tosyloxy- ⁇ -cyano-l ⁇ -tetrahydrocarbazole.
  • the tosyloxy group was removed by treatment with methyl amine in a sealed tube at 100 0 C to yield 3- methylamino-6-cyano-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole, which was isolated after column chromatography.
  • the 4- methylamino-cyclohexanone(2,2'-dimethyltrimethylene)ketal hydrochloride was obtained after treatment with hydrochloric acid and this product was reacted with 4- cyanophenylhydrazine via Fisher Indole cyclisation to yield 3-methylamino-6-cyano-l,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole.
  • the racemic 3-methylamino-6-cyano-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole was resolved by formation of a diastereomeric salt using L-pyroglutamic acid and the optically pure diastereomeric salt was further treated with boron-trifiuoride-acetic acid complex to afford frovatriptan.
  • the reaction mixture was basified with sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with n-butanol to give frovatriptan free base, which was further treated with succinic acid to afford the monosuccinate salt monohydrate. . HCl hydrochloric acid
  • frovatriptan is isolated by extraction with n-butanol, a water wash and concentration to obtain frovatriptan.
  • n-butanol as well as frovatriptan free base have significant solubility in water and consequently complete removal of free basicity (due to sodium hydroxide solution) from n-butanol extracts is a time consuming process.
  • the distillation of n-butanol requires considerable amounts of energy and it is not a cost effective method for the preparation of the free base.
  • extensive crystallisation is required which results in low yields.
  • the overall yield of frovatriptan monosuccinate monohydrate is 3.7%.
  • the 4-hydrazino-benzamide hydrochloride was further treated with 4-methylamino- cyclohexanone(2,2'-dimethyltrimethylene)ketal under acidic conditions and after basification and work-up, the racemic base was obtained in 63% yield.
  • the resolution of racemic compound was done by formation of a diastereomeric salt using optically pure (lS)-(+)-10-camphorsulphonic acid and recrystallised 10 times in methanol to give the optically pure salt with 99% e.e. with a very low yield (Scheme 4).
  • Another method for the preparation of optically pure frovatriptan involves formation of a derivative of racemic frovatriptan free base to obtain the corresponding enantiomer after separation by chiral HPLC.
  • the racemic free base was treated with benzyl chloroformate or di-tert-butyl dicarbonate in basic medium to give the N-protected tetrahydrocarbazole.
  • the protected optically pure enantiomer was separated by chiral HPLC and subsequently deprotected typically by hydrogenation in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd-carbon or under acidic conditions respectively to afford the required optically pure base and hydrochloride salt.
  • the above method involves the separation of compounds with chiral HPLC which is not an economical method for scale-up and commercial production.
  • This phthalimido-protected carbazole was further treated with hydrazine hydrate in the presence of potassium carbonate to afford racemic 3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole in 64% molar yield.
  • the resolution of the racemic amine was effected by diastereomeric salt formation using optically pure 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-L-gulonic acid (DIKGA) in methanol.
  • DIKGA optically pure 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-L-gulonic acid
  • Two crystallisations of the diastereomeric salt in methanol afforded the product in 25% molar yield and with an optical purity of more than 98% e.e.
  • the optically pure diastereomeric salt was treated with potassium carbonate solution to give N-desmethyl- frovatriptan.
  • the optically pure amine has to be protected in order to avoid side reactions such as dimethylation. Therefore, the amine was reacted with benzaldehyde in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride to yield (+)-3-benzylamino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole as an intermediate which was reacted with formaldehyde to give (+)-3- N-benzyl-6-carboxamido-3-methylamino-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide high quality frovatriptan and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or solvates or hydrates thereof which are necessary for pharmaceutical compositions for use in the manufacture of medicaments, in particular for the treatment of migraine.
  • frovatriptan as used herein throughout the description and claims means frovatriptan and/or any salt, solvate or hydrate thereof unless specified otherwise.
  • the intermediates named can be racemates or single enantiomers unless specified otherwise.
  • the processes of the present invention can be used to prepare frovatriptan, its antipode S- (-)-6-carboxamido-3-methylamino-l,2,3,4 tetrahydrocarbazole, or racemic frovatriptan.
  • a first aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of 6- carboxamido-3-phthalimido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole comprising the following steps:
  • step (b) the reduction of step (b) is carried out with a dithionite ion, a sulphite ion or stannous chloride, which is preferably sodium sulphite or sodium dithionite, and most preferably sodium sulphite.
  • a dithionite ion preferably sodium sulphite or sodium dithionite, and most preferably sodium sulphite.
  • step (a) is carried out at a temperature below 5°C.
  • the nitrite ion used in step (a) is from a metal nitrite, preferably an alkaline earth or alkali metal nitrite, preferably an alkali metal nitrite such as sodium nitrite or potassium nitrite.
  • the nitrite ion is from sodium nitrite.
  • the mineral acid used in step (a) is hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid, preferably hydrochloric acid.
  • the sulphonic acid used in step (a) is p-toluene sulphonic acid, benzene sulphonic acid, methane sulphonic acid or ethane sulphonic acid. Most preferably, the sulphonic acid is p- toluene sulphonic acid.
  • the 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone can be used in a protected form such as in the form of an acetal, such as a dialkyl acetal.
  • the acetal is the dimethyl acetal.
  • the 6- carboximido-3-phthalimido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole is prepared in a 'one-pot' process from 4-aminobenzamide, which means that all steps (a) to (c) in the process according to the first aspect of the present invention are carried out without purifying any intermediates, preferably without purifying or isolating any intermediates, preferably in one reaction vessel.
  • a second aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of frovatriptan comprising a process according to the first aspect of the present invention.
  • a third aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of 3-amino- 6-carboxamido-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole comprising deprotection of 6-carboxamido-3- phthalimido-1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole with hydrazine in the presence of another organic base.
  • the another organic base is a trialkyl amine, most preferably triethyl amine.
  • a fourth aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of frovatriptan comprising a process according to the third aspect of the present invention.
  • a fifth aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of 3-N- benzyl-6-carboxamido-3-methylamino-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole comprising reductive amination of 3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole with benzaldehyde and formaldehyde at pH 4-6.
  • the reductive amination is carried out stepwise, adding benzaldehyde first and then formaldehyde.
  • the reducing agent is sodium cyanoborohydride.
  • the reductive amination is carried out in the presence of an acid, such as acetic acid, a mineral acid like hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid, or a sulphonic acid like p-toluene sulphonic acid.
  • an acid such as acetic acid, a mineral acid like hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid, or a sulphonic acid like p-toluene sulphonic acid.
  • the reductive amination is carried out in the presence of acetic acid.
  • a sixth aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of frovatriptan comprising a process according to the fifth aspect of the present invention.
  • a seventh aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of frovatriptan (preferably frovatriptan free base) comprising catalytic hydrogenolysis of 3-N- benzyl- ⁇ -carboxamido-S-methylamino-l ⁇ -tetrahydrocarbazole.
  • the catalyst is Pd on charcoal, more preferably 20% Pd on charcoal.
  • the reaction solvent for the catalytic hydrogenolysis is a C 1 6 alcohol (such as methanol or ethanol), acetic acid, or a mixture thereof.
  • the reaction solvent for the catalytic hydrogenolysis is methanol.
  • any one of the processes of the first seven aspects of the present invention can include a further step for the purification of frovatriptan by crystallising from one or more organic solvents selected from acetates such as ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, isopropyl acetate; chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, dichloroethane; ethers such as diethyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, diisopropyl ether; ketonic solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone and other higher ketones; alcoholic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, t-butanol, pentanols and higher alcohols; and mixtures thereof.
  • organic solvents selected from acetates such as ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, isopropy
  • any one of the processes of the first seven aspects of the present invention can include a further step for the preparation of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or solvate or hydrate of frovatriptan.
  • a preferred salt of frovatriptan is the succinate salt.
  • any one of the processes of the first seven aspects of the present invention is carried out on a commercial scale, preferably to prepare frovatriptan or a salt, solvate or hydrate thereof or a process intermediate thereof (such as 6-carboxamido-3-phthalimido-
  • An eighth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan or frovatriptan succinate prepared by a process according to one or more of the first seven aspects of the present invention.
  • the frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate are suitable for treating or preventing migraine.
  • a ninth aspect of the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising frovatriptan or frovatriptan succinate prepared by a process according to one or more of the first seven aspects of the present invention, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers.
  • the pharmaceutical composition is suitable for treating or preventing migraine.
  • a tenth aspect of the present invention provides the use of frovatriptan or frovatriptan succinate prepared by a process according to one or more of the first seven aspects of the present invention, in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of migraine.
  • An eleventh aspect of the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing migraine, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of frovatriptan or frovatriptan succinate prepared by a process according to one or more of the first seven aspects of the present invention.
  • the patient is a mammal, preferably a human.
  • a twelfth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan with a chemical purity of greater than 99%, more preferably greater than 99.5%, even more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9% (as measured by HPLC).
  • a thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan with an optical purity of greater than 99%, more preferably greater than 99.5%, even more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9% (as measured by chiral HPLC).
  • a fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan succinate with a chemical purity of greater than 99.5%, more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9% (as measured by HPLC).
  • a fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan succinate with an optical purity of greater than 99.5%, more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9% (as measured by chiral HPLC).
  • optical purity and “chiral HPLC purity” are used interchangeably herein throughout the description and claims, and mean the percentage of the desired enantiomer in a given mixture.
  • the present invention provides improved processes for the preparation of highly pure frovatriptan.
  • the improved processes are simple, inexpensive, good yielding and can be easily adopted for commercial production with a high degree of consistency and reproducibility.
  • the present invention provides improved processes for the synthesis of frovatriptan intermediates.
  • Intermediate 6-carboxamido-3-phthalimido- 1,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole (IV) is preferably prepared in a 'one-pot' synthesis without the need to isolate the intermediate 4-hydrazino-benzamide hydrochloride.
  • the frovatriptan free base prepared by the improved processes according to the present invention can be easily converted into any suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salt, such as the succinate, benzoate, oxalate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, acetate, propionate, maleate, formate or a sulphonate.
  • the salt is the succinate salt.
  • the processes of the present invention comprise improved and defined process parameters for the manufacturing of frovatriptan wherein formation of degradation impurities is precisely controlled and minimized.
  • the processes of the present invention offer simple work-up procedures with optimum conditions for improved yield and quality with minimum contamination with process impurities.
  • the improved processes can be easily adapted on commercial scale as efficient and convenient processes.
  • the processes of the present invention preferably avoid column chromatography purification technique for isolation, thereby making the processes simpler and more adaptable for large scale commercial production.
  • the present invention can include a further step for the purification of frovatriptan by crystallising from one or more organic solvents selected from acetates such as ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, isopropyl acetate; chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, dichloroethane; ethers such as diethyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, diisopropyl ether; ketonic solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone and other higher ketones; alcoholic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, t-butanol, pentanols and higher alcohols; and mixtures thereof.
  • organic solvents selected from acetates such as ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, isopropyl acetate; chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent
  • the 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone can be used in the form of an acetal, such as a dialkyl acetal.
  • the acetal is the dimethyl acetal.
  • the first seven aspects of the present invention can include a further step for the preparation of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or solvate or hydrate of frovatriptan.
  • frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate of greater than 99% chemical purity as measured by HPLC.
  • the frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate of the present invention have a chemical purity of greater than 99.5%, more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9%.
  • frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate of greater than 99% optical purity as measured by chiral HPLC.
  • the frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate of the present invention have an optical purity of greater than 99.5%, more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9%.
  • the high quality frovatriptan and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or solvates or hydrates thereof prepared by the present invention are used for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions to use in the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment or prevention of migraine.
  • the preferred embodiment involves the treatment of 4-aminobenzamide with sodium nitrite in the presence of hydrochloric acid and p-toluene sulphonic acid at a temperature of -5°C to -10 0 C to afford a diazonium salt. It is necessary to keep the temperature of the reaction mixture below 5°C, preferably between -5°C to -10 0 C, to avoid decomposition of the diazonium salt.
  • Reduction of the diazonium intermediate can be carried out by using any suitable reducing agent.
  • Preferred reducing agents are sodium dithionite, stannous chloride or sodium sulphite. Most preferably, the reducing agent is sodium sulphite.
  • the sodium sulphite can be dissolved in water to obtain a clear solution and added to the diazonium salt mixture, keeping the temperature of the reaction mixture between -5°C to -10 0 C. It has been observed that the addition of sodium sulphite is an extremely exothermic reaction and it is important to maintain the required temperature, otherwise the addition of the diazonium salt into the sodium sulphite solution was not able to give the improved yield and purity of the product (IV).
  • the temperature of the reaction mixture is allowed to rise and preferably the reaction mixture is stirred for around 12 hours at 25-30 0 C until complete conversion to the corresponding hydrazine salt.
  • 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone is added portionwise at a temperature of 40-45 0 C and preferably the temperature of the reaction mixture is raised to 70-75 0 C in order to complete the reaction.
  • the 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone is added at 40-50 0 C and preferably cyclisation reaction, via Fisher Indole reaction, is carried out in a methanol/water mixture at 70-75 0 C or an isopropanol/water mixture at 70-80 0 C.
  • the product ⁇ -carboxamido-3-phthalimido-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole (IV), is filtered, neutralised, washed with water and optionally purified by reflux in dichloromethane to give yields greater than 90%.
  • WO 94/14772 discloses a similar process for the preparation of 6-carboxamido-3- phthalimido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole (IV) via a Fisher Indole cyclisation reaction by reacting 4-hydrazino-benzamide hydrochloride and 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone in acetic acid (Scheme 5). The product was isolated by column chromatography to afford only 46% yield.
  • PTSA p-toluene sulphonic acid
  • the deprotection of the phthalimido moiety from 6-carboxamido-3-phthalimido- 1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole is performed using hydrazine (e.g. hydrazine hydrate) in isopropanol and triethyl amine as a base.
  • hydrazine e.g. hydrazine hydrate
  • the mixture is heated to 80-85 0 C and stirred for 3 hours to achieve complete deprotection of the phthalimido moiety.
  • the work-up is done by removing the solvent under reduced pressure and preferably the concentrated mass is treated with potassium carbonate solution and triethyl amine.
  • the crystallised ( ⁇ )-3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole is filtered and washed with water to afford a >90% yield.
  • the deprotection reaction can also be carried out using hydrazine hydrate (3 eq.) in ethanol (10 volumes) as solvent without the triethyl amine.
  • the mixture is heated to 60-65 0 C for 4-5 hours to achieve complete deprotection of the phthalimido moiety.
  • the reaction mixture is filtered and the solvent is removed to afford the (+)-3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole in 50% molar yield.
  • the reaction mixture is gradually allowed to reach ambient temperature and is further cooled to 5-10 0 C and stirred for 1 hour.
  • the crystallised diastereomeric salt is filtered and washed with cooled methanol.
  • the diastereomeric enriched salt is recrystallised two times under identical conditions in methanol (10 volumes for crystallisation + 2 volumes for washing the solid) to afford 24% of compound (VI) with a chiral HPLC purity of >99.8%.
  • the volume of solvent and temperature play a significant role in deciding the yields and optical purity of the diastereomeric salt (VI).
  • optically pure salt is dissolved into water (5 volumes) and treated with 2 equivalents of potassium carbonate solution to afford (+)-3- amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole after filtration and washing with water and isopropanol.
  • the temperature range for the filtration of the DIKGA salt formation and subsequent crystallisation of the optically enriched diastereomeric salt (VI) is 5-10 0 C.
  • a process for the preparation of optically pure amine (VII) from (VI) preferably involves treatment with an inorganic base, for example 2 equivalents of potassium carbonate to yield >95% of pure amine (VII).
  • the chemical purity is >99.7% (determined by HPLC) and optical purity 99.8- 100% (determined by chiral HPLC).
  • the optically pure amine (VII) is reacted with 1.3 equivalents of benzaldehyde in the presence of 3.0 equivalents of sodium cyanoborohydride in methanol to yield (+)-3- benzylamino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole as an intermediate.
  • the temperature of the reaction mixture is -5°C to -10 0 C and preferably glacial acetic acid is used to maintain the reaction mixture at pH 4-6.
  • the reaction does not go to completion and side products are formed.
  • formaldehyde preferably as a formalin solution
  • the temperature is preferably at -10 0 C to 0 0 C.
  • the solvent is removed under reduced pressure.
  • the pH of the reaction mixture is adjusted to ⁇ 11 by addition of 30% potassium carbonate (aq) solution at 25- 30 0 C.
  • the product is extracted in ethyl acetate and mixed with water and acidified with hydrochloric acid whilst maintaining the temperature at 25-30 0 C to obtain pH 2.
  • the mixture is stirred for 1 hour and the organic layer is separated.
  • the reaction mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate to remove the side products and impurities.
  • the aqueous layer is basified to about pH 11 using 30% potassium carbonate (aq) solution.
  • ethyl acetate and isopropanol are added to the reaction mixture and preferably the reaction mixture is then cooled and filtered to give compound (VIII) as a solid.
  • the acid and base treatment can be repeated a second time if necessary.
  • the preferred temperature range for the filtration of crystallised (VIII) is 0-5 0 C.
  • the N-benzylated intermediate can be isolated if required and used for the subsequent transformation.
  • the inventors have observed that the purity of compound (VIII) is surprisingly very important with respect to the purity of any frovatriptan which is derived from it, as the main impurity generated during the preparation of (VIII) is difficult to remove in subsequent transformations.
  • the procedure according to the present invention wherein the reductive animation with sodium cyanoborohydride is carried out using intermediate (VII) and benzaldehyde in the presence of glacial acetic acid at pH 4-6, significantly enhances the purity and yield of intermediate (VIII).
  • the product is isolated by simple filtration to afford a free flowing powder in 85% yield with an HPLC purity of more than 99.5%. Therefore, this transformation can be achieved in high yield with a very pure product without the need for column chromatography.
  • Alternative reducing agents for the reductive animation are sodium borohydride, Pd- carbon/hydrogen, sodium triacetoxyborohydride, decaborane, triethyl silane/iridium complex, zinc/acetic acid, sodium borohydride/magnesium chlorate, zinc borohydride/zinc chloride, silica gel/zinc borohydride, nickel chloride/ sodium borohydride, Pd/formic acid, Ti(O'Pr) 4 /NaBH 4 , Bu 3 SnH, Bu 2 SnClH, Bu 2 SnIH, Et 3 SiH- trifluoroacetic acid, Ti(O'Pr) 4 -polymethylhydrosiloxane, PhSiH 3 -Bu 2 SnCl 2 , Picoline-borane or Zr(BH 4 ) 2 Cl 2 (dabco) 2 .
  • the deprotection of 3-N-benzyl-6-carboxamido-3-me ⁇ ylamino- 1,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole is carried out by catalytic hydrogenolysis using 20% Pd on activated charcoal in methanol (preferably around 10 volumes) at 25-30 0 C.
  • the work-up is done by filtering the reaction mixture through a Celite bed and washing with methanol.
  • the combined mother liquors are distilled under reduced pressure and recrystallised in isopropanol to afford frovatriptan free base (J).
  • Alternative catalysts for the catalytic hydrogenolysis are 5 or 10% Pd/C, PdBaSO 4 , 20% Pd hydroxide on carbon, Pd black, ammonium formate and formic acid.
  • Alternative solvents for the catalytic hydrogenolysis can be ethanol, trifluoroethanol, ethyl acetate or acetic acid.
  • WO 94/14772 discloses a process for the preparation of (+)-6-carboxamido-3- methylamino-1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole monosuccinate monohydrate (II) by hydrogenolysis of (VIII) using Pearlman catalyst in the presence of succinic acid.
  • (+)-6- Carboxamido-3-methylamino-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole monosuccinate monohydrate QI) has a very low solubility in organic solvent and consequently isolation of (II) in the presence of a Pearlman catalyst is troublesome, because the product is contaminated with catalyst. Furthermore, the procedure disclosed in WO 94/14772 could not afford a product with a satisfactory impurity profile as required by the ICH guidelines, even after recrystallisation using solvents such as methanol/water.
  • the present invention surprisingly provides a simple process involving catalytic hydrogenolysis of intermediate (VIII) with Pd/C to afford highly pure frovatriptan base which can be optionally further purified with an alcohol, such as isopropanol, to afford a satisfactory impurity profile in 57.5% yield with an HPLC purity of more than 99.8%.
  • a preferred process for the recrystallisation of frovatriptan free base (I) comprises treatment with activated carbon in hot isopropanol (preferably 13 volumes).
  • crude free base (I) is treated with 5% of activated carbon (w/w) at 80-85 0 C and the product filtered when hot and the mother liquor cooled to 25-30 0 C.
  • the preferred temperature range for the filtration of crystallised frovatriptan (I) is 25-30 0 C.
  • the chemical purity of product (I) is >99.85% (as measured by HPLC).
  • the optical purity of product (T) is >99.9% (as determined by chiral HPLC).
  • the highly pure frovatriptan base can then be converted into the required salt, such as the monosuccinate monohydrate in 91% yield with a chemical purity of >99.9% and an optical purity of >99.9%.
  • a preferred process for the preparation of frovatriptan succinate salt (II) from free base (T) and succinic acid comprises using 15 volumes of methanol and 1 volume of water (based on the quantity of free base) as solvents.
  • the optimum temperature range for the filtration of crystallised frovatriptan succinate salt (II) is -10 0 C to -15°C.
  • the chemical purity of product (II) obtained is >99.9% (as measured by HPLC) and the optical purity is >99.9% (as determined by chiral HPLC). Further details of the invention are illustrated below in the following non-limiting examples.
  • Hydrochloric acid 35%) (3.2 L) was added to a cooled solution of 4-aminobenzamide (2.0 Kg, 14.69 mol) in water (14 L, 7 volumes) at 5-10 0 C. Then p-toluene sulphonic acid (10.1 Kg, 3.44 mol) was added to the reaction mixture and further cooled to -5°C to -10 0 C. Sodium nitrite (1.76 Kg, 25.7 mol) was dissolved into water (4 L, 2 volumes) and added to the cooled reaction mixture over a period of 2.5 hours at -5°C to -10 0 C and further stirred for 4 hours.
  • the optically pure amine (VII) was prepared by addition of a potassium carbonate solution (546.5 g dissolved in 2060 ml water) to a clear solution of the diastereomeric salt (1030 g dissolved in 5150 ml water) at 0-5 0 C and further stirred for 1 hour.
  • the crystallised (+)-3- amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole (VII) was filtered and the solid was washed with water (2080 ml, 2 volumes) and finally with isopropanol.
  • the product was dried under reduced pressure at 50-55 0 C for 6 hours to obtain the title compound as a white powder (468.5 g).
  • the reaction mixture was then cooled to 0-10 0 C and sodium cyanoborohydride (206 g, 3.27 mol) was added portionwise over a period of 1.5 hours before glacial acetic acid (138 g, 2.18 mol) was added dropwise at a temperature of -5°C to -10 0 C to obtain a pH of 4-6 and further stirred for 6 hours.
  • Formaldehyde solution (37%) (133 ml, 1.64 mol) was added dropwise at a temperature of 0 0 C to -10 0 C.
  • the reaction mixture was further stirred for 6 hours.
  • the reaction was monitored by HPLC as well as TLC. Then the temperature of the reaction mixture was allowed to reach ambient conditions. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure.
  • the reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (1 x 2500 ml and 2 x 1250 ml).
  • the aqueous layer was basified to pH ⁇ 11 using 30% potassium carbonate (aq) solution at 25-35°C.
  • the reaction mixture was further extracted with ethyl acetate (1 x 2500 ml and 2 x 1250 ml).
  • the combined organic extracts were washed with water (1250 ml, 5 volumes) and brine solution (1250 ml, 5 volumes).
  • the combined organic extracts were again mixed with water (5000 ml, 20 volumes) and acidified with hydrochloric acid (35%) (250 ml) maintaining the temperature at 25-30 0 C to obtain pH 2.
  • the product was further purified by recrystallisation using isopropanol (1872 ml, 13 volumes).
  • the reaction mixture was heated to reflux and the clear solution was treated with activated carbon (Norit Supra B activated charcoal, 7.2 g, 5% w/w) for 15 minutes.
  • the reaction mixture was filtered through a Celite bed under hot conditions and the Celite bed was washed with isopropanol (288 ml, 2 volumes).
  • the combined mother liquors were concentrated under reduced pressure at 25-30 0 C and the concentrated mass was cooled to 25-30 0 C and stirred for 2 hours.
  • the product was easily isolated by filtration and washed with isopropanol (144 ml, 1 volume).
  • the product was dried under reduced pressure at 50-55 0 C for 6 hours to afford the tide compound as a white powder (105 g).
  • (+)-6-Carboxamido-3-methylamino-l,2,3,4,-tetrahydrocarbazole (I) (90 g, 0.37 mol) was dissolved into methanol (450 ml, 5 volumes), the solution was filtered and washed with methanol (90 ml) to obtain a clear solution and to the mother liquor water (90 ml) was added.
  • succinic acid 45 g, 0.38 mol
  • methanol 720 ml, 9 volumes
  • the clear solution of succinic acid was added into the solution of (T) at 25-30°C over a period of 15 minutes and further stirred for 3 hours.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to the active pharmaceutical ingredient frovatriptan and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In particular, it relates to efficient processes for the preparation of frovatriptan and its synthetic intermediates, which are amenable to large scale commercial production and provide the required products with improved yield and purity.

Description

A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF FROVATRIPTAN AND FROVATRIPTAN SUCCINATE AND THEIR SYNTHETIC INTERMEDIATES
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to the active pharmaceutical ingredient frovatriptan and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In particular, it relates to efficient processes for the preparation of frovatriptan and its synthetic intermediates, which are amenable to large scale commercial production and provide the required products with improved yield and purity.
Background of the invention
Frovatriptan (I), chemically named R-(+)-6-carboxamido-3-methylamino-l,2,3,4 tetrahydrocarbazole, is currently marketed as the monosuccinate salt monohydrate (II) for the treatment of migraine.
Figure imgf000002_0001
Figure imgf000002_0002
Various processes for the preparation of frovatriptan base are disclosed in the prior art but, as discussed below, these processes are neither particularly suitable nor convenient for large scale commercial production. acetic acid
Figure imgf000003_0002
Figure imgf000003_0001
methyl amine
Figure imgf000003_0003
di-tert-butyl dicarbonate
Figure imgf000003_0005
Figure imgf000003_0004
Figure imgf000003_0006
Scheme 1
The process for obtaining frovatriptan base and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof disclosed in US 5616603 is shown in Scheme 1. The first step involves tetrahydrocarbazole ring formation, via a Fischer Indole synthesis, involving the reaction of 4- cyanophenylhydrazine hydrochloride and 4-benzyloxy-cyclohexanone in acetic acid to afford 3-benzyloxy-6-cyano-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole, which was isolated after column chromatography. This product was hydrolysed with sodium hydroxide to give 3-hydroxy-6- cyano-1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole, which was further treated with tosyl chloride in the presence of pyridine to yield S-tosyloxy-ό-cyano-l^^^-tetrahydrocarbazole. The tosyloxy group was removed by treatment with methyl amine in a sealed tube at 1000C to yield 3- methylamino-6-cyano-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole, which was isolated after column chromatography. The 3-methylamino-6-cyano-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole was N-protected to afford S-tert-butyloxycarbonylmethylamino-ό-cyano-l^^^-tetrahydrocarbazole, oxidised with hydrogen peroxide and further treated with sodium metabisulphite to afford racemic frovatriptan, which was isolated after column chromatography in an overall yield of 6.1% .
However, the process disclosed in US 5616603 has several limitations with respect to preparing commercial quantities. In particular, several steps require column chromatography; the process involves several protection and deprotection steps; the isolated yields are very low and the transformation of 3-tosyloxy-6-cyano-l,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole to 3-methylamino-6-cyano-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole requires heating the mixture in a sealed tube.
Another process for the preparation of frovatriptan is described in US 6359146 and is illustrated in Scheme 2. 4-Methylamino-cyclohexanone(2,2'-dimethyltrimethylene)ketal hydrochloride was prepared by reaction of l,4-cyclohexanedione(mono-2,2'- dimethyltrimethylene)ketal and methyl amine in the presence of molecular sieves to form a Schiff s base intermediate which was hydrogenated using palladium on carbon as a catalyst to afford 4-methylamino-cyclohexanone(2,2'-dimethyltrimethylene)ketal. The 4- methylamino-cyclohexanone(2,2'-dimethyltrimethylene)ketal hydrochloride was obtained after treatment with hydrochloric acid and this product was reacted with 4- cyanophenylhydrazine via Fisher Indole cyclisation to yield 3-methylamino-6-cyano-l,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole. The racemic 3-methylamino-6-cyano-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole was resolved by formation of a diastereomeric salt using L-pyroglutamic acid and the optically pure diastereomeric salt was further treated with boron-trifiuoride-acetic acid complex to afford frovatriptan. The reaction mixture was basified with sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with n-butanol to give frovatriptan free base, which was further treated with succinic acid to afford the monosuccinate salt monohydrate.
Figure imgf000005_0001
. HCl hydrochloric acid
Figure imgf000005_0002
Figure imgf000005_0003
succinic acid
Figure imgf000005_0004
Figure imgf000005_0005
Scheme 2
However the procedure disclosed in US 6359146 has several limitations. In particular, the transformation of R-(+)-3-methylamino-6-cyano-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole L- pyroglutamic acid salt with boron-trifluoride-acetic acid complex to frovatriptan generates indole carboxylic acid as a side product, resulting in a very low yield. Hence this transformation is not suitable for large scale production. In addition, the work-up step involves basification with sodium hydroxide solution and this is unsatisfactory as it may lead to hydrolysis of the amide group to the corresponding carboxylic acid. Moreover, frovatriptan is isolated by extraction with n-butanol, a water wash and concentration to obtain frovatriptan. However, n-butanol as well as frovatriptan free base have significant solubility in water and consequently complete removal of free basicity (due to sodium hydroxide solution) from n-butanol extracts is a time consuming process. Moreover, the distillation of n-butanol requires considerable amounts of energy and it is not a cost effective method for the preparation of the free base. In order to obtain the pharmaceutically acceptable purity of the monosuccinate monohydrate (II) extensive crystallisation is required which results in low yields. Hence, the overall yield of frovatriptan monosuccinate monohydrate is 3.7%.
A method for the preparation of 4-hydrazino-benzamide hydrochloride, which has been used as a starting material for the preparation of frovatriptan, has been disclosed in US 5616603. 4-Amino-benzamide was treated with sodium nitrite under acidic conditions to form the diazonium salt which was reduced with sodium sulphite to afford 4-hydrazino- benzamide hydrochloride (Scheme 3).
Figure imgf000006_0001
Scheme 3
The 4-hydrazino-benzamide hydrochloride was further treated with 4-methylamino- cyclohexanone(2,2'-dimethyltrimethylene)ketal under acidic conditions and after basification and work-up, the racemic base was obtained in 63% yield. However the resolution of racemic compound was done by formation of a diastereomeric salt using optically pure (lS)-(+)-10-camphorsulphonic acid and recrystallised 10 times in methanol to give the optically pure salt with 99% e.e. with a very low yield (Scheme 4).
This method has severe disadvantages as the recrystallisation of the diastereomeric salt requires 10 crystallisations and consequently this process is not suitable for scale-up and preparation of commercial quantities of frovatriptan.
Figure imgf000007_0001
(i) lS-(+)-10-camρhorsulρhonic acid (ii) crystallisation
Figure imgf000007_0002
Figure imgf000007_0003
Scheme 4
Another method for the preparation of optically pure frovatriptan, disclosed in WO 94/14772, involves formation of a derivative of racemic frovatriptan free base to obtain the corresponding enantiomer after separation by chiral HPLC. The racemic free base was treated with benzyl chloroformate or di-tert-butyl dicarbonate in basic medium to give the N-protected tetrahydrocarbazole. The protected optically pure enantiomer was separated by chiral HPLC and subsequently deprotected typically by hydrogenation in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd-carbon or under acidic conditions respectively to afford the required optically pure base and hydrochloride salt. However, the above method involves the separation of compounds with chiral HPLC which is not an economical method for scale-up and commercial production.
Another approach for the preparation of frovatriptan has also been disclosed in WO 94/14772 (Scheme 5). 4-Hydrazino-benzamide hydrochloride (prepared according to Scheme 3) was refluxed with 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone in acetic acid to form 6- carboxamido-3-phthalimido-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole via a Fisher Indole cyclisation reaction. After column chromatography, 6-carboxamido-3-phthalimido- 1,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole was isolated in 46% molar yield. This phthalimido-protected carbazole was further treated with hydrazine hydrate in the presence of potassium carbonate to afford racemic 3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole in 64% molar yield. The resolution of the racemic amine was effected by diastereomeric salt formation using optically pure 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-L-gulonic acid (DIKGA) in methanol. Two crystallisations of the diastereomeric salt in methanol afforded the product in 25% molar yield and with an optical purity of more than 98% e.e. The optically pure diastereomeric salt was treated with potassium carbonate solution to give N-desmethyl- frovatriptan. However, in order to achieve methylation of this product, to obtain frovatriptan, the optically pure amine has to be protected in order to avoid side reactions such as dimethylation. Therefore, the amine was reacted with benzaldehyde in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride to yield (+)-3-benzylamino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole as an intermediate which was reacted with formaldehyde to give (+)-3- N-benzyl-6-carboxamido-3-methylamino-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole. After column chromatography, the resultant product was isolated in 57.5% molar yield as a foam with purity >98%. However this quality of product is not suitable for the commercial preparation of frovatriptan. The deprotection of the benzyl group was performed by hydrogenolysis in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd-activated carbon and 1 equivalent of succinic acid to yield the final compound (II) with an optical purity of 99.5% and a chemical purity of 96-98%. It has been observed that after several crystallisation of the crude frovatriptan, prepared according to the above method, in a range of solvents such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, acetone or tert-butyl methyl ether, a commercially acceptable purity of frovatriptan cannot be obtained.
Figure imgf000009_0001
hydrazine hydrate DIKGA
Figure imgf000009_0002
Figure imgf000009_0003
(l) benzaldehyde, sodium cyanoborohydride
(11) formaldehyde
Figure imgf000009_0004
Figure imgf000009_0005
Figure imgf000009_0006
Scheme 5
An alkylation method for the preparation of frovatriptan is disclosed in US 5616603 (Scheme 6). (+)-3-Amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole was treated with carbon disulphide in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and pyridine to yield the intermediate compound ό-carboxamido-S-isothiocyanato-l^^^-tetrahydrocarbazole, which was reduced with sodium borohydnde to afford frovatriptan, which was isolated after column chromatography in 46% yield. However, this process has major disadvantages as carbon disulphide is a well known toxic compound and, moreover, column chromatography is not suitable for scale-up and commercial scale production.
Figure imgf000010_0001
Scheme 6
As discussed above, all the processes disclosed in the prior art for the preparation of frovatriptan and its salts suffer from serious disadvantages with respect to commercial production.
Considering the importance gained by frovatriptan for the treatment of migraine there is a great need for developing simple, inexpensive, good yielding and commercially feasible processes for the manufacture of high quality frovatriptan and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
Object of the invention
Therefore, there is a need for improved processes for the synthesis of frovatriptan, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and synthetic intermediates thereof, which provide commercial products conveniently with acceptable yield and purity.
A further object of the present invention is to provide high quality frovatriptan and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or solvates or hydrates thereof which are necessary for pharmaceutical compositions for use in the manufacture of medicaments, in particular for the treatment of migraine. Summary of the invention
The term frovatriptan as used herein throughout the description and claims means frovatriptan and/or any salt, solvate or hydrate thereof unless specified otherwise. The intermediates named can be racemates or single enantiomers unless specified otherwise. The processes of the present invention can be used to prepare frovatriptan, its antipode S- (-)-6-carboxamido-3-methylamino-l,2,3,4 tetrahydrocarbazole, or racemic frovatriptan.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of 6- carboxamido-3-phthalimido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole comprising the following steps:
(a) reaction of 4-aminobenzamide with a nitrite ion in the presence of a mineral acid and a sulphonic acid;
(b) reduction of the diazonium salt formed; and
(c) addition of 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone or a protected form thereof.
Preferably, in the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, the reduction of step (b) is carried out with a dithionite ion, a sulphite ion or stannous chloride, which is preferably sodium sulphite or sodium dithionite, and most preferably sodium sulphite.
Preferably, in the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, the reaction of step (a) is carried out at a temperature below 5°C.
Preferably, in the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, the nitrite ion used in step (a) is from a metal nitrite, preferably an alkaline earth or alkali metal nitrite, preferably an alkali metal nitrite such as sodium nitrite or potassium nitrite. Preferably, in the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, the nitrite ion is from sodium nitrite.
Preferably, in the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, the mineral acid used in step (a) is hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid, preferably hydrochloric acid. Preferably, in the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, the sulphonic acid used in step (a) is p-toluene sulphonic acid, benzene sulphonic acid, methane sulphonic acid or ethane sulphonic acid. Most preferably, the sulphonic acid is p- toluene sulphonic acid.
Optionally, in step (c) of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, the 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone can be used in a protected form such as in the form of an acetal, such as a dialkyl acetal. Preferably, the acetal is the dimethyl acetal.
Preferably, in the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, the 6- carboximido-3-phthalimido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole is prepared in a 'one-pot' process from 4-aminobenzamide, which means that all steps (a) to (c) in the process according to the first aspect of the present invention are carried out without purifying any intermediates, preferably without purifying or isolating any intermediates, preferably in one reaction vessel.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of frovatriptan comprising a process according to the first aspect of the present invention.
A third aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of 3-amino- 6-carboxamido-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole comprising deprotection of 6-carboxamido-3- phthalimido-1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole with hydrazine in the presence of another organic base. Preferably, the another organic base is a trialkyl amine, most preferably triethyl amine.
A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of frovatriptan comprising a process according to the third aspect of the present invention.
A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of 3-N- benzyl-6-carboxamido-3-methylamino-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole comprising reductive amination of 3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole with benzaldehyde and formaldehyde at pH 4-6. Preferably, the reductive amination is carried out stepwise, adding benzaldehyde first and then formaldehyde. Preferably, the reducing agent is sodium cyanoborohydride. Preferably, the reductive amination is carried out in the presence of an acid, such as acetic acid, a mineral acid like hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid, or a sulphonic acid like p-toluene sulphonic acid. Preferably, the reductive amination is carried out in the presence of acetic acid.
A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of frovatriptan comprising a process according to the fifth aspect of the present invention.
A seventh aspect of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of frovatriptan (preferably frovatriptan free base) comprising catalytic hydrogenolysis of 3-N- benzyl-ό-carboxamido-S-methylamino-l^^^-tetrahydrocarbazole. Preferably, the catalyst is Pd on charcoal, more preferably 20% Pd on charcoal. Preferably, the reaction solvent for the catalytic hydrogenolysis is a C1 6 alcohol (such as methanol or ethanol), acetic acid, or a mixture thereof. Preferably, the reaction solvent for the catalytic hydrogenolysis is methanol.
Optionally, any one of the processes of the first seven aspects of the present invention can include a further step for the purification of frovatriptan by crystallising from one or more organic solvents selected from acetates such as ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, isopropyl acetate; chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, dichloroethane; ethers such as diethyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, diisopropyl ether; ketonic solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone and other higher ketones; alcoholic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, t-butanol, pentanols and higher alcohols; and mixtures thereof.
Optionally, any one of the processes of the first seven aspects of the present invention can include a further step for the preparation of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or solvate or hydrate of frovatriptan. A preferred salt of frovatriptan is the succinate salt.
Preferably any one of the processes of the first seven aspects of the present invention is carried out on a commercial scale, preferably to prepare frovatriptan or a salt, solvate or hydrate thereof or a process intermediate thereof (such as 6-carboxamido-3-phthalimido-
1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole, 3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole or 3-N- benzyl-6-carboxamido-3-methylamino-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole) in batches of 5Og, 10Og, 50Og, lkg, 5kg, 10kg, 20kg, 50kg or more.
An eighth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan or frovatriptan succinate prepared by a process according to one or more of the first seven aspects of the present invention. Preferably, the frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate are suitable for treating or preventing migraine.
A ninth aspect of the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising frovatriptan or frovatriptan succinate prepared by a process according to one or more of the first seven aspects of the present invention, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers. Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition is suitable for treating or preventing migraine.
A tenth aspect of the present invention provides the use of frovatriptan or frovatriptan succinate prepared by a process according to one or more of the first seven aspects of the present invention, in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of migraine.
An eleventh aspect of the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing migraine, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of frovatriptan or frovatriptan succinate prepared by a process according to one or more of the first seven aspects of the present invention. Preferably the patient is a mammal, preferably a human.
A twelfth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan with a chemical purity of greater than 99%, more preferably greater than 99.5%, even more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9% (as measured by HPLC).
A thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan with an optical purity of greater than 99%, more preferably greater than 99.5%, even more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9% (as measured by chiral HPLC). A fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan succinate with a chemical purity of greater than 99.5%, more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9% (as measured by HPLC).
A fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides frovatriptan succinate with an optical purity of greater than 99.5%, more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9% (as measured by chiral HPLC).
The terms "optical purity" and "chiral HPLC purity" are used interchangeably herein throughout the description and claims, and mean the percentage of the desired enantiomer in a given mixture.
Detailed description of the invention
The present invention provides improved processes for the preparation of highly pure frovatriptan. The improved processes are simple, inexpensive, good yielding and can be easily adopted for commercial production with a high degree of consistency and reproducibility. In addition, the present invention provides improved processes for the synthesis of frovatriptan intermediates. Intermediate 6-carboxamido-3-phthalimido- 1,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole (IV) is preferably prepared in a 'one-pot' synthesis without the need to isolate the intermediate 4-hydrazino-benzamide hydrochloride.
The frovatriptan free base prepared by the improved processes according to the present invention can be easily converted into any suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salt, such as the succinate, benzoate, oxalate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, acetate, propionate, maleate, formate or a sulphonate. Most preferably the salt is the succinate salt.
The processes of the present invention comprise improved and defined process parameters for the manufacturing of frovatriptan wherein formation of degradation impurities is precisely controlled and minimized.
In addition, the processes of the present invention offer simple work-up procedures with optimum conditions for improved yield and quality with minimum contamination with process impurities. The improved processes can be easily adapted on commercial scale as efficient and convenient processes.
The processes of the present invention preferably avoid column chromatography purification technique for isolation, thereby making the processes simpler and more adaptable for large scale commercial production.
Optionally, the present invention can include a further step for the purification of frovatriptan by crystallising from one or more organic solvents selected from acetates such as ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, isopropyl acetate; chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, dichloroethane; ethers such as diethyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, diisopropyl ether; ketonic solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone and other higher ketones; alcoholic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, t-butanol, pentanols and higher alcohols; and mixtures thereof.
Optionally, the 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone can be used in the form of an acetal, such as a dialkyl acetal. Most preferably, the acetal is the dimethyl acetal.
Optionally, the first seven aspects of the present invention can include a further step for the preparation of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or solvate or hydrate of frovatriptan.
Further aspects of the invention provide frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate of greater than 99% chemical purity (as measured by HPLC). Preferably the frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate of the present invention have a chemical purity of greater than 99.5%, more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9%.
Further aspects of the invention provide frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate of greater than 99% optical purity (as measured by chiral HPLC). Preferably the frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate of the present invention have an optical purity of greater than 99.5%, more preferably greater than 99.8% and most preferably greater than 99.9%. The high quality frovatriptan and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or solvates or hydrates thereof prepared by the present invention are used for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions to use in the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment or prevention of migraine.
A preferred process for the preparation of frovatriptan and its succinate salt incorporating preferred embodiments of the first seven aspects of the present invention is outlined in Scheme 7.
Figure imgf000018_0001
Figure imgf000018_0002
Scheme 7
The preferred embodiment involves the treatment of 4-aminobenzamide with sodium nitrite in the presence of hydrochloric acid and p-toluene sulphonic acid at a temperature of -5°C to -100C to afford a diazonium salt. It is necessary to keep the temperature of the reaction mixture below 5°C, preferably between -5°C to -100C, to avoid decomposition of the diazonium salt. Reduction of the diazonium intermediate can be carried out by using any suitable reducing agent. Preferred reducing agents are sodium dithionite, stannous chloride or sodium sulphite. Most preferably, the reducing agent is sodium sulphite. The sodium sulphite can be dissolved in water to obtain a clear solution and added to the diazonium salt mixture, keeping the temperature of the reaction mixture between -5°C to -100C. It has been observed that the addition of sodium sulphite is an extremely exothermic reaction and it is important to maintain the required temperature, otherwise the addition of the diazonium salt into the sodium sulphite solution was not able to give the improved yield and purity of the product (IV).
After complete addition of the sodium sulphite solution, preferably the temperature of the reaction mixture is allowed to rise and preferably the reaction mixture is stirred for around 12 hours at 25-300C until complete conversion to the corresponding hydrazine salt. Preferably 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone is added portionwise at a temperature of 40-450C and preferably the temperature of the reaction mixture is raised to 70-750C in order to complete the reaction. Preferably the 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone is added at 40-500C and preferably cyclisation reaction, via Fisher Indole reaction, is carried out in a methanol/water mixture at 70-750C or an isopropanol/water mixture at 70-800C.
Preferably the product, ό-carboxamido-3-phthalimido-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole (IV), is filtered, neutralised, washed with water and optionally purified by reflux in dichloromethane to give yields greater than 90%.
WO 94/14772 discloses a similar process for the preparation of 6-carboxamido-3- phthalimido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole (IV) via a Fisher Indole cyclisation reaction by reacting 4-hydrazino-benzamide hydrochloride and 4-phthalimido-cyclohexanone in acetic acid (Scheme 5). The product was isolated by column chromatography to afford only 46% yield. However, the present inventors have surprisingly found that the use of p-toluene sulphonic acid (PTSA) enhanced the Fisher Indole cyclisation reaction to a great extent and gave much higher yields (>90%) with an HPLC purity of more than 98% without any purification. Preferably the deprotection of the phthalimido moiety from 6-carboxamido-3-phthalimido- 1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole is performed using hydrazine (e.g. hydrazine hydrate) in isopropanol and triethyl amine as a base. Preferably the mixture is heated to 80-850C and stirred for 3 hours to achieve complete deprotection of the phthalimido moiety. Preferably the work-up is done by removing the solvent under reduced pressure and preferably the concentrated mass is treated with potassium carbonate solution and triethyl amine. Preferably the crystallised (±)-3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole is filtered and washed with water to afford a >90% yield. The deprotection reaction can also be carried out using hydrazine hydrate (3 eq.) in ethanol (10 volumes) as solvent without the triethyl amine. Preferably the mixture is heated to 60-650C for 4-5 hours to achieve complete deprotection of the phthalimido moiety. Preferably the reaction mixture is filtered and the solvent is removed to afford the (+)-3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole in 50% molar yield. Therefore deprotection of the phthalimido moiety in compound (IV) using hydrazine hydrate and another organic base, such as triethyl amine, leads unexpectedly to dramatic enhancements of the yield. The product obtained by the process of the present invention is easily isolated by filtration in a molar yield of 92% with an HPLC purity of more than 98% which can be further used without purification.
Resolution of (±)-3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole can be carried out using 1 equivalent of 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-L-gulonic acid in methanol.
Preferably, after 1 hour of reflux, the reaction mixture is gradually allowed to reach ambient temperature and is further cooled to 5-100C and stirred for 1 hour. Preferably the crystallised diastereomeric salt is filtered and washed with cooled methanol. Preferably the diastereomeric enriched salt is recrystallised two times under identical conditions in methanol (10 volumes for crystallisation + 2 volumes for washing the solid) to afford 24% of compound (VI) with a chiral HPLC purity of >99.8%. The volume of solvent and temperature play a significant role in deciding the yields and optical purity of the diastereomeric salt (VI). Preferably the optically pure salt is dissolved into water (5 volumes) and treated with 2 equivalents of potassium carbonate solution to afford (+)-3- amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole after filtration and washing with water and isopropanol. The temperature range for the filtration of the DIKGA salt formation and subsequent crystallisation of the optically enriched diastereomeric salt (VI) is 5-100C. A process for the preparation of optically pure amine (VII) from (VI) preferably involves treatment with an inorganic base, for example 2 equivalents of potassium carbonate to yield >95% of pure amine (VII). The chemical purity is >99.7% (determined by HPLC) and optical purity 99.8- 100% (determined by chiral HPLC).
Preferably the optically pure amine (VII) is reacted with 1.3 equivalents of benzaldehyde in the presence of 3.0 equivalents of sodium cyanoborohydride in methanol to yield (+)-3- benzylamino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole as an intermediate. Preferably the temperature of the reaction mixture is -5°C to -100C and preferably glacial acetic acid is used to maintain the reaction mixture at pH 4-6. Alternatively, when the reaction is carried out in the absence of acetic acid, the reaction does not go to completion and side products are formed. Preferably, after completion of the reaction, formaldehyde (preferably as a formalin solution) is added and stirred for 6 hours. The time of stirring is necessary to complete the reaction. Preferably 1-2 equivalents of formaldehyde can be used and the temperature is preferably at -100C to 00C. After completion of the reaction, preferably the solvent is removed under reduced pressure. To the concentrated mass, preferably 20-30 volumes of water are added and stirred for 1 hour. Preferably the pH of the reaction mixture is adjusted to ~11 by addition of 30% potassium carbonate (aq) solution at 25- 300C. Preferably the product is extracted in ethyl acetate and mixed with water and acidified with hydrochloric acid whilst maintaining the temperature at 25-300C to obtain pH 2. Preferably the mixture is stirred for 1 hour and the organic layer is separated. Preferably the reaction mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate to remove the side products and impurities. Preferably the aqueous layer is basified to about pH 11 using 30% potassium carbonate (aq) solution. Preferably ethyl acetate and isopropanol are added to the reaction mixture and preferably the reaction mixture is then cooled and filtered to give compound (VIII) as a solid. The acid and base treatment can be repeated a second time if necessary. The preferred temperature range for the filtration of crystallised (VIII) is 0-50C. Alternatively, the N-benzylated intermediate can be isolated if required and used for the subsequent transformation. The inventors have observed that the purity of compound (VIII) is surprisingly very important with respect to the purity of any frovatriptan which is derived from it, as the main impurity generated during the preparation of (VIII) is difficult to remove in subsequent transformations. However, the procedure according to the present invention, wherein the reductive animation with sodium cyanoborohydride is carried out using intermediate (VII) and benzaldehyde in the presence of glacial acetic acid at pH 4-6, significantly enhances the purity and yield of intermediate (VIII). Preferably the product is isolated by simple filtration to afford a free flowing powder in 85% yield with an HPLC purity of more than 99.5%. Therefore, this transformation can be achieved in high yield with a very pure product without the need for column chromatography.
Alternative reducing agents for the reductive animation are sodium borohydride, Pd- carbon/hydrogen, sodium triacetoxyborohydride, decaborane, triethyl silane/iridium complex, zinc/acetic acid, sodium borohydride/magnesium chlorate, zinc borohydride/zinc chloride, silica gel/zinc borohydride, nickel chloride/ sodium borohydride, Pd/formic acid, Ti(O'Pr)4/NaBH4, Bu3SnH, Bu2SnClH, Bu2SnIH, Et3SiH- trifluoroacetic acid, Ti(O'Pr)4-polymethylhydrosiloxane, PhSiH3-Bu2SnCl2, Picoline-borane or Zr(BH4)2Cl2(dabco)2.
Preferably the deprotection of 3-N-benzyl-6-carboxamido-3-meώylamino- 1,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole is carried out by catalytic hydrogenolysis using 20% Pd on activated charcoal in methanol (preferably around 10 volumes) at 25-300C. Preferably, after completion of the reaction, the work-up is done by filtering the reaction mixture through a Celite bed and washing with methanol. Preferably the combined mother liquors are distilled under reduced pressure and recrystallised in isopropanol to afford frovatriptan free base (J).
Alternative catalysts for the catalytic hydrogenolysis are 5 or 10% Pd/C, PdBaSO4, 20% Pd hydroxide on carbon, Pd black, ammonium formate and formic acid.
Alternative solvents for the catalytic hydrogenolysis can be ethanol, trifluoroethanol, ethyl acetate or acetic acid. WO 94/14772 discloses a process for the preparation of (+)-6-carboxamido-3- methylamino-1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole monosuccinate monohydrate (II) by hydrogenolysis of (VIII) using Pearlman catalyst in the presence of succinic acid. (+)-6- Carboxamido-3-methylamino-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole monosuccinate monohydrate QI) has a very low solubility in organic solvent and consequently isolation of (II) in the presence of a Pearlman catalyst is troublesome, because the product is contaminated with catalyst. Furthermore, the procedure disclosed in WO 94/14772 could not afford a product with a satisfactory impurity profile as required by the ICH guidelines, even after recrystallisation using solvents such as methanol/water. However, the present invention surprisingly provides a simple process involving catalytic hydrogenolysis of intermediate (VIII) with Pd/C to afford highly pure frovatriptan base which can be optionally further purified with an alcohol, such as isopropanol, to afford a satisfactory impurity profile in 57.5% yield with an HPLC purity of more than 99.8%.
A preferred process for the recrystallisation of frovatriptan free base (I) comprises treatment with activated carbon in hot isopropanol (preferably 13 volumes). Preferably, crude free base (I) is treated with 5% of activated carbon (w/w) at 80-850C and the product filtered when hot and the mother liquor cooled to 25-300C. The preferred temperature range for the filtration of crystallised frovatriptan (I) is 25-300C. The chemical purity of product (I) is >99.85% (as measured by HPLC). The optical purity of product (T) is >99.9% (as determined by chiral HPLC).
The highly pure frovatriptan base can then be converted into the required salt, such as the monosuccinate monohydrate in 91% yield with a chemical purity of >99.9% and an optical purity of >99.9%.
A preferred process for the preparation of frovatriptan succinate salt (II) from free base (T) and succinic acid comprises using 15 volumes of methanol and 1 volume of water (based on the quantity of free base) as solvents. The optimum temperature range for the filtration of crystallised frovatriptan succinate salt (II) is -100C to -15°C. The chemical purity of product (II) obtained is >99.9% (as measured by HPLC) and the optical purity is >99.9% (as determined by chiral HPLC). Further details of the invention are illustrated below in the following non-limiting examples.
Examples
(+)-6-Carboxamido-3-phthalimido-1.2.3.4-tetrahydrocarba2ole (IV)
Hydrochloric acid (35%) (3.2 L) was added to a cooled solution of 4-aminobenzamide (2.0 Kg, 14.69 mol) in water (14 L, 7 volumes) at 5-100C. Then p-toluene sulphonic acid (10.1 Kg, 3.44 mol) was added to the reaction mixture and further cooled to -5°C to -100C. Sodium nitrite (1.76 Kg, 25.7 mol) was dissolved into water (4 L, 2 volumes) and added to the cooled reaction mixture over a period of 2.5 hours at -5°C to -100C and further stirred for 4 hours. Sodium sulphite (5.6 Kg, 44.4 mol) was dissolved into water (16 L, 8 volumes) and added dropwise to the diazonium salt over a period of 3 hours at a temperature of -5°C to -100C. After stirring for 2 hours, the temperature of the reaction mixture was allowed to rise to ambient and stirred for 12 hours. The reaction was monitored by TLC. Methanol (16 L, 8 volumes) was added to the yellow suspension and 4-phthalimido- cyclohexanone (4.64 Kg, 19.07 mol) was added portionwise at a temperature of 40-450C. After maintaining the reaction mixture at 40-450C for 30 minutes, the temperature of the reaction mixture was raised to 70-750C and maintained for 8 hours. After completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled to 25-300C, filtered and washed with water (40 L). The wet cake was mixed with water (40 L) and the pH adjusted to 7-8 using 10% potassium carbonate (aq) solution, and the slurry was filtered and washed with water (40 L). The product was dried under vacuum at 60-650C. The crude product was purified by reflux in dichloromethane (30 L) and dried to afford the title compound (3.70 Kg). Molar yield: 70%
HPLC purity: 98.06%
(+)-3-Amino-6-carboxamido-1.2.3.4-tetrahydrocarbazole (V)
Hydrazine hydrate (906 g, 18.12 mol) was added to a stirred suspension of (i)-6- carboxamido-3-phthalimido-l, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole (IV) (2.43 Kg, 6.76 mol) in isopropanol (24.3 L, 10 volumes) at 25-300C over a period of 30 minutes and then triethyl amine (1.36 Kg, 13.44 mol) was added. The mixture was heated to 80-850C and stirred for 3 hours to achieve complete deprotection of the phthalimido moiety. The work-up was done by removing the solvent under reduced pressure and the concentrated mass was treated with potassium carbonate solution (2.92 Kg in 48.6 L water) and triethyl amine (680 g, 6.73 mol) at 25-300C and stirred for 1 hour. The mixture was cooled to 5-100C and further stirred for 1 hour. The crystallised product was filtered, the cake was washed with water (7.29 L, 3 volumes) and isopropanol (7.29 L, 3 volumes). The product was dried under reduced pressure at 55-600C for 5 hours to afford the title compound (1.53 Kg). Molar yield: 92% HPLC purity: >98%
(+)-3-Amino-6-carboxamido-1.2.3.4-tetrahydrocarbazole (VII)
A solution of 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-L-gulonic acid (DIKGA) (1.95 Kg, 6.67 mol) in methanol (3.75 L) was added to a stirred solution of (+)-3-amino-6-carboxamido- 1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole (V) (1.5 Kg, 6.54 mol) in methanol (11.25 L) at 40-450C and further heated to 55-600C. After 1 hour of reflux, the reaction mixture was gradually allowed to reach ambient temperature and further cooled to 5-100C and stirred for 1 hour. The crystallised diastereomeric salt was filtered and the cake washed with cooled methanol (3 L, 2 volumes). The solid was dried at 55-600C for 5 hours. The diastereomeric enriched salt was recrystallised two times under identical conditions in methanol (10 volumes for crystallisation + 2 volumes for washing the solid) to afford recrystallised diastereomeric salt (VI) as a white amorphous solid (1.04 Kg). Molar yield: 24% HPLC purity: >99.9% Chiral HPLC purity: >99.8%
The optically pure amine (VII) was prepared by addition of a potassium carbonate solution (546.5 g dissolved in 2060 ml water) to a clear solution of the diastereomeric salt (1030 g dissolved in 5150 ml water) at 0-50C and further stirred for 1 hour. The crystallised (+)-3- amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole (VII) was filtered and the solid was washed with water (2080 ml, 2 volumes) and finally with isopropanol. The product was dried under reduced pressure at 50-550C for 6 hours to obtain the title compound as a white powder (468.5 g). Molar yield: >96% HPLC purity: >99.7% Chiral HPLC purity: >99.85%
S-N-Benzyl-ό-carboxamido-S-methylamino-l.2.3.4- tetrahydrocarbazole (VIII) Benzaldehyde (147 ml, 1.43 mol) was added to a stirred solution of (+)-3-amino-6- carboxamido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole (VII) (250 g, 1.09 mol) in methanol (5000 ml, 20 volumes) at 25-300C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours at 25-300C. The reaction mixture was then cooled to 0-100C and sodium cyanoborohydride (206 g, 3.27 mol) was added portionwise over a period of 1.5 hours before glacial acetic acid (138 g, 2.18 mol) was added dropwise at a temperature of -5°C to -100C to obtain a pH of 4-6 and further stirred for 6 hours. Formaldehyde solution (37%) (133 ml, 1.64 mol) was added dropwise at a temperature of 00C to -100C. The reaction mixture was further stirred for 6 hours. The reaction was monitored by HPLC as well as TLC. Then the temperature of the reaction mixture was allowed to reach ambient conditions. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure. Water (500 ml, 20 volumes) was added to the concentrated mass and stirred. The pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to ~11 by addition of 30% potassium carbonate (aq) solution at 25-300C. The reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (1 x 2500 ml and 2 x 1250 ml). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (1250 ml, 5 volumes) and brine solution (1250 ml, 5 volumes). The combined organic extracts were mixed with water (5000 ml, 20 volumes) and acidified with hydrochloric acid (35%) (250 ml) maintaining the temperature at 25-300C to obtain pH 2. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour and the organic layer was separated. The reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (1 x 2500 ml and 2 x 1250 ml). The aqueous layer was basified to pH ~11 using 30% potassium carbonate (aq) solution at 25-35°C. The reaction mixture was further extracted with ethyl acetate (1 x 2500 ml and 2 x 1250 ml). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (1250 ml, 5 volumes) and brine solution (1250 ml, 5 volumes). The combined organic extracts were again mixed with water (5000 ml, 20 volumes) and acidified with hydrochloric acid (35%) (250 ml) maintaining the temperature at 25-300C to obtain pH 2. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour and the organic layer was separated. The reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (1 x 2500 ml and 2 x 1250 ml). The aqueous layer was cooled to 0-50C, basified to pH ~11 using 30% potassium carbonate (aq) solution at 0-50C. Then ethyl acetate (750 ml, 3 volumes) and isopropanol (250 ml water, 1 volume) were added and the mixture was stirred for 5 hours at 0-50C. The resulting mixture was filtered and the solid was washed with ethyl acetate (500 ml, 2 volumes) to yield the title compound (31Og). Molar yield: 85% HPLC purity: >99.5%
(+)-6-Carboxamido-3-methylamino-1.2.3.4-tetrahydrocarbazole (Frovatriptan. I) S-N-Benzyl-ό-carboxamido-S-methylamino-l^^^-tetrahydrocarbazole (VIII) (250 g, 0.75 mol) was dissolved in methanol (1250 ml, 5 volumes) at 25-300C. 20% Pd on activated charcoal (20 g) was mixed with methanol (1250 ml, 5 volumes) at 25-300C and added to the clear solution of S-N-benzyl-ό-carboxamido-S-methylamino-l^^^-tetrahydrocarbazole (VIII) under a nitrogen atmosphere. Hydrogen gas was bubbled through the solution at 25- 300C until complete deprotection of the benzyl moiety. The excess of hydrogen gas was removed from the solution by bubbling nitrogen in the reaction mixture for 15 minutes. Work-up was done by filtering the reaction mixture through a Celite bed and washing with methanol (500 ml, 2 volumes). The combined mother liquors were distilled under reduced pressure at 50-550C, vacuum 200-250 mbar to yield a slurry mass. Then stripping was done using isopropanol (3 x 250 ml) and the isopropanol was distilled to remove the traces of methanol present in the reaction mixture. To the reaction mixture isopropanol (250 ml, 1 volume) was added and the mixture was slowly chilled to -100C to -12°C. After stirring for 2 hours, the product was isolated by filtration and washed with isopropanol (250 ml, 1 volume). The crude product was dried at 50-550C for 6 hours to obtain the title compound as a white powder (144 g). The product was further purified by recrystallisation using isopropanol (1872 ml, 13 volumes). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux and the clear solution was treated with activated carbon (Norit Supra B activated charcoal, 7.2 g, 5% w/w) for 15 minutes. The reaction mixture was filtered through a Celite bed under hot conditions and the Celite bed was washed with isopropanol (288 ml, 2 volumes). The combined mother liquors were concentrated under reduced pressure at 25-300C and the concentrated mass was cooled to 25-300C and stirred for 2 hours. The product was easily isolated by filtration and washed with isopropanol (144 ml, 1 volume). The product was dried under reduced pressure at 50-550C for 6 hours to afford the tide compound as a white powder (105 g). Molar yield: 57.5% HPLC purity: >99.8% Chiral HPLC purity: >99.9%
Frovatriptan monosuccinate monohydrate (II)
(+)-6-Carboxamido-3-methylamino-l,2,3,4,-tetrahydrocarbazole (I) (90 g, 0.37 mol) was dissolved into methanol (450 ml, 5 volumes), the solution was filtered and washed with methanol (90 ml) to obtain a clear solution and to the mother liquor water (90 ml) was added. In another flask succinic acid (45 g, 0.38 mol) was dissolved into methanol (720 ml, 9 volumes) and filtered to remove the extraneous material and obtain a clear solution. The clear solution of succinic acid was added into the solution of (T) at 25-30°C over a period of 15 minutes and further stirred for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was chilled to -100C to -12°C and further stirred for 2 hours. The product was isolated by filtration and the cake washed with methanol (180 ml, 2 volumes). The product was dried at 45-500C for 10 hours to obtain the title compound as a white powder (127.5 g). Molar yield: 91% HPLC purity: >99.9%
Chiral HPLC purity: >99.9%
It will be understood that the present invention has been described above by way of example only. The examples are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various modifications and embodiments can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is defined by the following claims only.

Claims

Claims
1. A process for the preparation of ό-carboxamido-S-phthalimido- 1,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole comprising the following steps: (a) reaction of 4-aminobenzamide with a nitrite ion in the presence of a mineral acid and a sulphonic acid;
(b) reduction of the diazonium salt formed; and
(c) addition of 4-ρhthalimido-cyclohexanone or a protected form thereof.
2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reduction is carried out with a dithionite ion, a sulphite ion or stannous chloride.
3. A process according to claim 2, wherein the reduction is carried out with sodium sulphite or sodium dithionite.
4. A process according to claim 3, wherein the reduction is carried out with sodium sulphite.
5. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the reaction of step (a) is carried out at a temperature below 5°C.
6. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the nitrite ion is from sodium nitrite.
7. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the sulphonic acid is p-toluene sulphonic acid, benzene sulphonic acid, methane sulphonic acid or ethane sulphonic acid.
8. A process according to claim 7, wherein the sulphonic acid is p-toluene sulphonic acid.
9. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the 6-carboximido-3- ρhthalimido-l,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole is prepared in a 'one-pot' process.
10. A process for the preparation of 3-amino-6-carboxamido-l,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole comprising deprotection of 6-carboxamido-3-phthalimido- 1,2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole with hydrazine in the presence of another organic base.
11. A process according to claim 10, wherein the organic base is a trialkyl amine.
12. A process according to claim 11, wherein the trialkyl amine is triethyl amine.
13. A process for the preparation of 3-N-benzyl-6-carboxamido-3-methylamino- 1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole comprising reductive amination of 3-amino-6-carboxamido-
1, 2,3,4- tetrahydrocarbazole with benzaldehyde and formaldehyde at pH 4-6.
14. A process according to claim 13, wherein the reducing agent is sodium cyanoborohydride.
15. A process according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the reductive amination is carried out in the presence of acetic acid.
16. A process for the preparation of frovatriptan comprising catalytic hydrogenolysis of S-N-benzyl-ό-carboxamido-S-methylamino-l^^^-tetrahydrocarbazole.
17. A process according to claim 16, wherein the catalyst is Pd on charcoal.
18. A process according to claim 17, wherein the catalyst is 20% Pd on charcoal.
19. A process according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the reaction solvent is methanol.
20. A process for the preparation of frovatriptan comprising a process according to any preceding of claim.
21. A process for the preparation of frovatriptan succinate comprising a process according to any preceding claim.
22. Frovatiiptan prepared by a process according to any of claims 1 to 20.
23. Frovatriptan succinate prepared by a process according to any of claims 1 to 21.
24. Frovatriptan according to claim 22 or frovatriptan succinate according to claim 23, for treating or preventing migraine.
25. A pharmaceutical composition comprising frovatriptan according to claim 22 or frovatriptan succinate according to claim 23.
26. Use of frovatriptan according to claim 22 or frovatriptan succinate according to claim 23, in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of migraine.
27. A method of treating or preventing migraine, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of frovatriptan according to claim 22 or frovatriptan succinate according to claim 23.
28. Frovatriptan with a chemical purity of: (a) greater than 99%; and/or
(b) greater than 99.5%; and/or
(c) greater than 99.8%; and/or
(d) greater than 99.9%.
29. Frovatriptan with an optical purity of:
(a) greater than 99%; and/or
(b) greater than 99.5%; and/or
(c) greater than 99.8%; and/or
(d) greater than 99.9%.
30. Frovatriptan succinate with a chemical purity of:
(a) greater than 99.5%; and/or
(b) greater than 99.8%; and/or (c) greater than 99.9%.
31. Frovatriptan succinate with an optical purity of:
(a) greater than 99.5%; and/or
(b) greater than 99.8%; and/or
(c) greater than 99.9%.
PCT/GB2010/050658 2009-04-23 2010-04-22 A process for the preparation of frovatriptan and frovatriptan succinate and their synthetic intermediates WO2010122343A1 (en)

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Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011095803A1 (en) 2010-02-02 2011-08-11 Generics [Uk] Limited Hplc method for analyzing frovatriptan
CN102964270A (en) * 2012-11-21 2013-03-13 合肥星宇化学有限责任公司 Method for reducing hydrazine synthesized by diazonium salt by utilizing sodium sulphite

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994014772A1 (en) * 1992-12-21 1994-07-07 Smithkline Beecham Plc Enantiomers of carbazole derivatives as 5-ht1-like agonists
US20070299123A1 (en) * 2006-06-27 2007-12-27 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited Amorphous frovatriptan succinate and process for the preparation thereof

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994014772A1 (en) * 1992-12-21 1994-07-07 Smithkline Beecham Plc Enantiomers of carbazole derivatives as 5-ht1-like agonists
US20070299123A1 (en) * 2006-06-27 2007-12-27 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited Amorphous frovatriptan succinate and process for the preparation thereof

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011095803A1 (en) 2010-02-02 2011-08-11 Generics [Uk] Limited Hplc method for analyzing frovatriptan
CN102964270A (en) * 2012-11-21 2013-03-13 合肥星宇化学有限责任公司 Method for reducing hydrazine synthesized by diazonium salt by utilizing sodium sulphite

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