Title of Invention

A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF 17B-CARBOXYANDROST-4-EN-3-ONE (IV) OR ANION THEREOF

Abstract The process of the present invention transforms a steroidal ketone of formula (III) to androst-4-en-17 beta -carboxylic acid (IV) by reaction with K2SO5-KHSO4-K2SO4.
Full Text FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10; rule 13]
"A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF 17B-CARBQXYANDROST-4-EN-3-
ONE (IV) OR ANION THEREOF"
PHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, of 301 Henrietta Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001, United States of America,
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:


ORIGINAL IN/PCT/2002/296/MUM

The present invention relates to a process for the production of 17β-
carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (IV) or anion thereof.
. The process of the present invention is a new way to produce androst-4-en-17-carboxylic acid.
2. Description of the Related Art J. Am. Chem.Soc, 82, 1709 (1960) discloses the monoethoxalylprogesterone or 21-methoxylalylprogesterone (III).
Tet. Lett., 36(3) 833 (1995) and /.Org. Chem., 50, 1544 (1985) discloses that oxone is a known oxidizing agent. This and other documents discussing oxone"s oxidizing properties teaches that oxone oxidation stops at the epoxide or diol stage and it does not cleave double bonds producing carboxylic acids. This includes oxidation of aldehydes to acids, amines to N-oxides, thioethers to sulfoxides or sulfones, alkenes to epoxides, cyclic Ketones to lactams. There is no disclosure of the conversion of oxylates to acids. International Publication WO90/00515 discloses the oxidation of 21- . benzylidenepregn-4-ene-3,20-dione with ozone to give a seco steroid, 3,5-secoandrost-5-one-3,17β-dioic acid. The process of the present invention does not use ozone.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION Disclosed is a process for the production of 17p-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (IV) or anion thereof, which comprises contacting a steroidal ketone (IH) where Ri is selected from the group consisting of:
(2) -ORM where RM is:
(c) -CR2-$, ^
(a) Q-Ce alkyl,
(b) trimethylsilyl,
(c) -CH2-4>, ^
where R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
(1) -H,
(2) -OR2-i where R2_i is:

(a) Q-Qs alkyl,
(b) trim&thylsilyl,
(?)$-,
(c)

(7) -CO-NHR2-3 where R2-3 is as defined above,
(8) -CO-NR2-4R2-5 where R2-4 and R2-5 are the same or different and are C1-C6 alkyl,

-OCH3,
(10)C3-C7cycloalkyl,
(11) C1-C12 alkyl with K2SO5KHS04 K2S04.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The starting material for the process of the present invention is progesterone (I). The C3-ketone of progesterone (I) must be protected as is well known to those skilled in the art. It is preferred to protect the C3-ketone of progesterone (I) as an enol ether giving the C3-protected progesterone (III). The preferred enol ether is the methyl or ethyl enol ether; more preferred is the methyl enol ether.
The C3-protected progesterone (II) is then coverted to the corresponding steroidal ketone (Hi). The steroidal ketone (III) can be of a number of different types depending on the nature of R1 and R2. For example, when R1 is -OH and R2 is:
-CO-OR2-3, the steroidal ketone (IH) is the acid derivative

alkyl, the steroidal ketone (IH) is the ketone

-H, the steroidal ketone (HI) is the aldehyde

- 0, the steroidal ketone (IH) is the phenyl derivative

-OR2-1, the steroidal ketone (HI) is the ester


It is readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the steroidal ketone (III) derivatives have corresponding tautomeric forms (IIl-t)

The conversion of the C3-protected progesterone (II) to the steroidal ketone form (III), and corresponding tautomer form (III-t) is performed my methods well known to those skilled in the art. For example if it is desired to prepare the acid derivative (IIIa), the C3-protected progesterone (II) is contacted with a dialkyl oxylate and a basic system such as 25% methoxide/methanol in toluene followed by treatment with an acid such as hydrochloric acid. In fact, the preferred steroidal ketone, monoethoxalylprogesterone or 21-methoxylalylprogesterone (III) is known, see J. Am. Chem.Soc, 82,1709 (1960).
The process of the present invention is performed by contacting the steroidal ketone (HI), or tautomer thereof (Hl-t) with OXONE. OXONE is a trademark of the DuPont Company and refers to K2S05 KHS04 K2S04, also known as potassium peroxymonosulfate also know as Karo"s salt. The process of the present invention can be performed without any base but it is preferred to perform the process of the present invention in the presence of a weak base. The base may be either organic or inorganic. It is important that the base produce a mixture which has a pH of from about 1 to about 10; it is more preferred that the pH of the reaction mixture be from about 4 to about 9; more preferably from about 6 to about 8. Operable weak bases include bases selected from the group consisting of bicarbonate, carbonate, acetate, hydroxide, phosphate, pyridine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine, N,N -dimethylpiperazine, morpholine, N-methylmorpholine, N-methylpiperidine, dimethylaminopyridine, aniline and trizlkylamines where the alkyl portion are the same or different and are C1-C4, It is preferred that the weak base is bicarbonate, carbonate, acetate and phosphate; it is more preferred that the weak base be aqueous bicarbonate. Operable solvents include water, ethyl acetate, ether, DMF, methylene chloride, THF, C1-C4 methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, acetonitrile, acetone, methylisobutylketone, methyl-f-butyl ether and mixtures thereof; it is preferred that the solvent is water, acetonitrile and acetone. The process of the present invention proceeds between about -30° and about 60°; it is preferred that the reaction temperature be between about 0° and about 25°.

When the reaction is determined to be complete as determined by HPLC or TLC with regard to the steroidal ketone starting material (III or III-t), the solids are removed from the crude reaction mixture (preferably by filtration) and the waste cake is rinsed with solvent (preferably acetone). The filtrate is tested for peroxide with starch/iodide paper and quenched as necessary with sodium bisulfite. The pH of the mixture should be adjusted to a pH between 4 and 5 with strong acid (preferably sulfuric acid) and worked-up as is known to those skilled in the art to provide the desired product.
The product, 17P-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) also known as oxoetiocholenic acid, 3-oxo-4-etienic acid, androst-4-ene-17-carboxylic acid or 3-oxo-4-androstene-17-β-carboxylic acid, is known see, US Patent 5,650,526 and Syn. Lett., 6, 517-518 (1996).
DEFINITIONS
The definitions and explanations below are for the terms as used throughout this entire document including both the specification and the claims.
DEFINITIONS
All temperatures are in degrees Centigrade.
Chromatography (column and flash chromatography) refers to purification/separation of compounds expressed as (support, eluent). It is understood that the appropriate fractions are pooled and concentrated to give the desired compound(s).
CMR refers to C-13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy, chemical shifts are reported in ppm (d) downfield from TMS.
NMR refers to nuclear (proton) magnetic resonance spectroscopy, chemical shifts are reported in ppm (d) downfield from tetramethylsilane.
THF refers to tetrahydrofuran.
DMSO refers to dimethylsulfoxide.
Pharmaceutically acceptable refers to those properties and/or substances which are acceptable to the patient from a pharmacological/toxicological point of view and to the manufacturing pharmaceutical chemist from a physical/chemical point of view regarding composition, formulation, stability, patient acceptance and bioavailability.
When solvent pairs are used, the ratios of solvents used are volume/volume (v/v).
When the solubility of a solid in a solvent is used the ratio of the solid to the solvent is weight/volume (wt/v).Oxone is a trademark of the DuPont Company and refers to K2SO5 KHSO4 K2SO4 also known as potassium peroxymonosulfate also known as Karo"s salt.

EXAMPLES
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, practice the present invention to its fullest extent. The following detailed examples describe how to prepare the various compounds and/or perform the various processes of the invention and are to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitations of the preceding disclosure in any way whatsoever. Those skilled in the art will promptly recognize appropriate variations from the procedures both as to reactants and as to reaction conditions and techniques and stoichiometries. PREPARATION 1 21 -Methoxyalylprogesterone (Ula-t)
3-hydroxypregna-3,5-dien-20-one 3-methyl ether (II, progesterone 3-methylenol
ether, 10 g) is dissolved in toluene (40 ml). Diethylglyoxylate (C2H5-O-CO-CO-O-C2H5,
5,75 g, 5.40 ml) is added followed by sodium methoxide (25%, 13.9 ml). The reaction
mixture is heated to 35° and monitored by TLC. When the reaction is complete (about 3
hr), it is quenched with hydrochloric acid (10.9 ml). The reaction mixture is slowly stirred
overnight and worked up the next morning by removing the lower aqueous phase,
extracting with water until the pH is > 2.5 and displacing the toluene with methanol. The
mixture is cooled to 0-5° and filtered. The cake is washed with methanol/water (15/, 2 x 20
ml) and dried on a nitrogen press overnight to give the title compound, ESI MS [M-H]"
calculated C24H31O5 = 399, found 399.
EXAMPLE 1 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (IV)
A vigorously stirred mixture of 21-Methoxyalylprogesterone (IIIa-t, PREPARATION 1,4.0 g, 10.0 mmol) and solid sodium bicarbonate (8.40 g, 100 mmol) in acetone (100 mL) is cooled to 0-5°. A mixture of oxone (15.4 g, 25.0 mmol) in water (60 mL) is added to the slurry of 21-methoxyalylprogesterone (IIIa-t) over 15 min and the mixture is warmed to 20-25°. When the reaction is complete, the solids are removed from the crude reaction mixture by filtration and the waste cake is rinsed with acetone (50 mL). The filtrate is assayed for peroxide with starch/iodide paper and quenched as necessary with sodium thiosulfate. The pH of the mixture is adjusted to between pH 4 and 5 with sulfuric acid (1 N). the acetone is then removed under reduced pressure. The product is collected by filtration, rinsed with water and dried under a stream of nitrogen to give crude product
(ID.
The crude product is recrystallized by dissolving it in a solution of
methanol/water/THF (80/20/10) at reflux and concentrating. The slurry is cooled to 0-5°

and the solids are collected by filtration, washed with acetone/methanol (10/90) and dried under nitrogen to give the title compound; MNR (DMSO, d6,500 MHz) 0.66,0.87-0.93,


CHART A



WE CLAIM:
1. A process for the production of 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (IV) or anion thereof,

which comprises contacting a steroidal ketone (III)

where Ri is selected from the group consisting of:
(3) -OH,
(4) —OR1-1where R1-1 is:

(d) C1-C6 alkyl,
(e) trimethylsilyl,

where R2 is selected from the group consisting of:

(15) -CO-NHR2-4 where R2-3 is as defined above,
(16) -CO-NR2-4R2-5 where R2-4 and R2-5 are the same or different and
are C1-C6 alkyl,
(18) C3-C7 cycloalkyl,
(19) C1-C12alkyl, with K2SO5 KHSO4K2SO4
said process proceeds at a temperature of -30°C to 60°C.
2. A process for the production of 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (IV) as claimed in claim 1 where R1 is -OH.
3. A process for the production of 17p-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (IV) as claimed in claim 1 where R2 is -CO-OR2-3
4. A process for the production of 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (IV) as claimed in claim 3 where R2-3 is C1-C6 alkyl.
5. A process for the production of 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (IV) as claimed in claim 4 where R2-3 is C1-C4 alkyl.
6. A process for the production of 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (IV) as claimed in claim 5 where R2-3 is C1 or C2 alkyl.
7. A process for the production of 17 β -carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) as claimed in claim 1 where the process is performed in the presence of a weak base.
8. A process for the production of 17 β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) as claimed in claim 7 where the weak base produces a pH of from 1 to 10

9. A process for the production of 17β -carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) as claimed in claim 8 where the weak base produces a pH of from 4 to 9.
10. A process for the production of 17p-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) as claimed in claim 7 where the weak base is selected from the group consisting of bicarbonate, carbonate, acetate, hydroxide, phosphate, pyridine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine, N, N- dimethylpiperazine, morpholine, N-methylmorpholine, N-methylpiperidine, dimethylaminopyridine, aniline and trialkylamines where the alkyl portion are the same or different and are C1-C4.
11. A process for the production of 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) as claimed in claim 10 where the weak base is bicarbonate, carbonate, acetate and phosphate.
12. A process for the production of 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) as claimed in claim 11 where the weak base is aqueous bicarbonate.
13. A process for the production of 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) as claimed in claim 1 where the process is performed in a temperature range of 0° to 25°.
14. A process for the production of 17β-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) as claimed in claim 1 where the solvent is water, ethyl acetate, ether,

DMF, methylene chloride, THF, C1-C4 methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, acetonitrile, acetone, methylisobutylketone, methyl-t-butyl ether and mixtures thereof.
15. A process for the production of 170-carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (H) as claimed in claim 1 where 2 to 10 equivalents of K2SO5 KHSO4K2SO4 are used.
16. A process for the production of 17β -carboxyandrost-4-en-3-one (II) as claimed in claim 1 where 3 to 6 equivalents of K2SO5 KHSO4 K2SO4 are used.
Dated this 8th day of March, 2002.
(NEEL KAMAL JAIN)
OF REMFRY 8B SAGAR
ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANTS

Documents:

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in-pct-2001-00296-mum-abstract(2-11-2005).doc

in-pct-2001-00296-mum-claims(granted)-(2-11-2005).doc

in-pct-2001-00296-mum-form 2(granted)-(2-11-2005).doc

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-abstract(2-11-2005).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-ABSTRACT(8-3-2002).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-ABSTRACT(GRANTED)-(7-1-2008).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-cancelled pages(2-11-2005).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-CLAIMS(8-3-2002).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-claims(granted)-(2-11-2005).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-CLAIMS(GRANTED)-(7-1-2008).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-correspondence(2-11-2005).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-CORRESPONDENCE(28-3-2006).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-correspondence(ipo)-(2-11-2005).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-CORRESPONDENCE(IPO)-(4-2-2008).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-DESCRIPTION(COMPLETE)-(8-3-2002).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-DESCRIPTION(GRANTED)-(7-1-2008).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-form 1(2-11-2005).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-FORM 1(28-3-2002).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-form 1(8-3-2002).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-form 19(24-9-2004).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-FORM 2(COMPLETE)-(8-3-2002).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-form 2(granted)-(2-11-2005).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-FORM 2(GRANTED)-(7-1-2008).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-FORM 2(TITLE PAGE)-(8-3-2002).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-FORM 2(TITLE PAGE)-(GRANTED)-(7-1-2008).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-form 3(8-3-2002).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-form 5(8-3-2002).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-form-pct-ipea-409(8-3-2002).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-form-pct-isa-210(8-3-2002).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-power of authority(2-11-2005).pdf

in-pct-2002-00296-mum-power of authority(6-5-2002).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-SPECIFICATION(AMENDED)-(2-11-2005).pdf

IN-PCT-2002-00296-MUM-WO INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION REPORT(8-3-2002).pdf


Patent Number 213493
Indian Patent Application Number IN/PCT/2002/00296/MUM
PG Journal Number 04/2008
Publication Date 25-Jan-2008
Grant Date 07-Jan-2008
Date of Filing 08-Mar-2002
Name of Patentee PHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY
Applicant Address 301 HENRIETTA STREET, KALAMAZOO,MICHIGAN 49001, USA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 KEVIN C.GREGA P.O.BOX 824,103 W.DIBBLE STREET, MARCELLUS,MI 40967, USA
2 SCOTT W.ASHFORD 121 EDGEMOOR AVENUE,KALAMAZOO,MI 49001
PCT International Classification Number CO7J3/00 C07J9/00
PCT International Application Number PCT/US00/21996
PCT International Filing date 2000-10-03
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 60/159,272 1999-10-13 U.S.A.