Title of Invention

CONTINUOUS RIVETER AND CONTINUOUS RIVETING METHOD OF BLIND RIVETS

Abstract Synthesis of mycophenolate mofetil (1), where R1 = 2- (- morpholiny) ethyl and R2 = hydrogen atom, includes reaction of mycophenolic acid with 4-(2-hydroxyethyl) morpholine in suitable solvent under azeotropic separation of water.
Full Text Method of Mycophenolate Mofetil Preparation
Field of the invention
This invention refers to method of mycophenolate mofetil preparation according to the
formula I
where
R1 is 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl,
R2 is hydrogen atom.
Mycophenolate mofetil (I) is used as an immunosuppressive for prophylactic treatment
in combination with other immunosuppressives (cyclosporine A, prednisone), or for treatment
of refractory rejections in patients after renal transplantation Chemically, mycophenolate
mofetil is 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyt ester of mycophenolic acid (R1 = R2 = H), which has
cytostatic effect, It carries out inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase selective inhibition,
and this way also de novo synthesis pathway of guanosine nucleotides and their
incorporation into DNK. This way cytostatic effect to lymphocytes is higher that to other cells.
Background Art
Synthesis of mycophenolate mofetil in accordance with the formula I (R1 = R2
morpholinoethyl, R2 = H) is described in the basic patent EP 281 713 B1 (1987) and several
other patents. US No. 4 808 592 (1989), US No. 4 753 935 (1988), US No. 4 952 579 (1990),
US No. 4 984 793 (1990), US No, 4 786 637 (1988). In accordance with these patents
mycophenolate mofetil may be prepared using (wo standard esterification methods (see
Synthetic Organic Chemistry, R.B. Wagner and H.D. Zook (Wiley, New York), 1956, pages
479 to 532): reaction of mycophenolic chloride with excessive amount of 2-
morpholinoethanot and condensation using dicyclohexylcarbodilmide (DDC). Esterification
via the acid chloride is based on reaction of excessive amount of 2-morpholinoethanof with
mycophenolic acid chloride that has been prepared from mycophenolic acid using suitable
chlorinating agent (thionylchioride, oxalylchloride etc.). Use of the excessive amount of 2-
morpholinoethanol (up to 3 equivalents), formation of dimmers (about 2%, R1 = H or 2-
morpholinoethyl, R2 = mycophenolic acid) represents a disadvantage of the two-stage
process, there are also problems with colour of the product. Formation of unjustifiable
amount of impurities and dicyclohexylurea that may be eliminated from the reaction mixture
only by a chromatography is a disadvantage of DCC use as an activating agent.
The US patent No. 5 247 083 dated 1993 describes preparation of mycophenolate
mofetil by reflux of mycophenolic add and 2-morpholinoethanol in a suitable solvent or a
mixture of solvents under azeotropic water separation. Dichloromethane, benzene, toluene,
xylene and higher hydrocarbons are given in the claims and examples. The most suitable
solvents are toluene, xylene and their mixture in proportion 1 : 1. A long reaction period
necessary to reach sufficient conversion (depending on the solvent used about 60 to 100
hours) and colour of the product (fight violet crystal) are the disadvantages of this method.
Object of the international application No. WO 00/34503 dated 2000 is mycophenolic
acid esterification with 2-morphoIinoethanol using enzyme catalysis. This way
mycophenolate mofetil may be obtained in high yield and purity, however, the method may
not be used in industry. Within this patent method of mycophenolic acid esterification by
boiling in 2-morpholinoethanol without any solvent is described but considering price of 2-
morpholinoethanol the method Is not suitable either.
Disclosure of the Invention
It was surprising during optimisation of mycophenolate mofetil preparation by
mycophenolic acid direct esteriflcation with 2-morpholinoethanol under azeotropic separation
of water that thanks to use of dibutyl ether, unlike toluene or xylene, the reaction is slightly
accelerated. Thanks to the use of higher ethers the problems with the colour of the product
that had been monitored in toluene or xylene were eliminated. Low solubility of
mycophenolate mofetil in higher ethers is also a favourable property as it makes product
isolation from high-boiling solvent easier. That is why the proposed method represents the
most favourable alternative to the method described under the patent US No. 5 247 083.
Process in accordance with invention solves preparation of mycophenolate mofetil as
follows:
Mycophenolic acid is esterified by reflux in ethers (general formula R3OR4 where.R3, R4
= alkyl, aryl), boiling point of which is 120ºC as minimum, under azeotropic separation of
water and under use of excessive amount of 2-morphoBnoethanol (1.01 to 3 molar
equivalents). Reaction time is In the range 5 to 60 hours and reaction temperature is higher
than 120ºC depending on the solvent used. The ratio mycophenolic acid : solvent used is in
the range 1 g : 2 ml to 1 g : 5 ml. Conversion is in the range 80 to 98%, After raw product
recrystallization mycophenolale mofetil is obtained with purity 99.0% as minimum and yield
70% as minimum.
Examples
The invention is illustrated with the following examples that however do not limit extent
of the patent in any way.
Example 1
Mycophenoiate mofetil; use of dibutyl ether as solvent
10 g mycophenolic acid were put in a reaction flask with a reflux cooler together with 20
ml dibutyl ether. Stirring vigorously the mixture was warmed up to the temperature of 50 to
60°C and then 4 ml 2-morpholinoethanol were dropped in. The reaction mixture was warmed
up to boiling under azeotropic separation of water. After 48 hours the mixture was cooled up
to the laboratory temperature and diluted with 20 ml dichloromethane. The solution was
extracted twice with 10 ml 0 5 M aqueous K2CO3 and once with 10 mi of water. Then
dichloromethane was distilled off under vacuum and the suspension was cooled up to 10 to
15°C. Crystallized mycophenolaie mofetil was removed by suction and recrystallized from
ethyl acetate. After the removal by auction and drying the crystals 11 g (78%) mycophenoiate
mofetil was obtained with purity > 99.0% (HPLC).
Example 2
Mycophenoiate mofetil; use of dipentyl ether as solvent
10 g mycophenolic acid were put in a reaction flask with a reflux cooler together with 20
ml dipentyl ether. Stirring vigorously the mixture was warmed up to the temperature of 50 to
60*C and then 4 ml 2-morpholinoethanoi were dropped in. The reaction mixture was warmed
up to boiling under azeotropic separation of water. After 6 hours the mixture was cooled up to
the laboratory temperature and diluted with 20 ml dichloromethane The solution was
extracted twice with 10 ml 0.5 M aqueous K2CO3 and once with 10 ml of water. Then
dichloromethane was distilled off under vacuum and the suspension was cooled up to 10 to
15°C. Crystallized mycophenoiate mofetil was removed by suction and recrystallized from
ethyl acetate. After the removal by suction and drying the crystals 10 g (71%) mycophenoiate
mofetil was obtained with purity > 99.0% (HPLC).
Example 3
Mycopnenolate mofelil; use excess of 2-morfpholinoethanol
10 g mycophenolic acid was put in a reaction flask with a reflux cooler together with 20
ml dibutyl ether. Stirring vigorously the mixture was warmed up to the temperature of 50 to
60'C and then 4,8 ml 2-morpholinoethanol was added in. The reaction mixture was warmed
up to boiling under azeotropic separation of water. After 15 hours the mixture was cooled up
to the laboratory temperature and diluted with 25 ml dichloromethane. The solution was
extracted twice with 10 ml of 1 % aqueous ammonia and once with 10 ml of water. Then
dichloromethane was distilled off under vacuum and the suspension was cooled up to 10 to
15*C. Crystallized mycophenolate mofetil was removed by suction and recrystallized from
ethyl acetate. After the removal by suction and drying the crystals 11.1 g (82 %)
mycophenolate mofetil was obtained with purity > 99.0% (HPLC).
We Claim:
1. The process of preparation of mycophenolate mofetil by direct esterification of
mycophenolic acid and 2-morpholinoethanol characterized with esterification carried
out under boiling in ethers.
2. The process according to claim 1, characterized with the use of ethers as solvent of
the general formula R3OR4 where R3 and R4 are independently alkyl or aryl.
3. The process according to claim 2, characterized with the use of ethers as solvent of
boiling point above 120 °C.
4. The process according to claim 1, characterized with the use of 1.01 up to 3.0 molar
equivalents of 2-morpholinoethanol.
5. The process according to claim 3, characterized with the use of dibutylether as an
inert solvent.
6. The process according to claim 5, characterized with the starting temperature of the
reaction ranging between 130 °C and 138 ºC and the final temperature of the reaction
ranging between 140 ºC and 145 ºC.
7. The process according to claim 5, characterized with the reflux time ranging from 30
to 80 hours.
8. The process according to claim 5, characterized with the ratio of mycophenolic acid to
dibutylether ranging from 1g/2ml to 1g/5ml.

Synthesis of mycophenolate mofetil (1), where R1 = 2- (- morpholiny) ethyl and R2 = hydrogen
atom, includes reaction of mycophenolic acid with 4-(2-hydroxyethyl) morpholine in suitable
solvent under azeotropic separation of water.

Documents:

1095-kolnp-2004-abstract.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-assignment.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-claims.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-correspondence.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-description (complete).pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-drawings.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-examination report.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-form 1.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-form 18.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-form 3.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-form 5.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-gpa.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-assignment.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-claims.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-correspondence.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-description (complete).pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-examination report.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-form 1.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-form 18.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-form 3.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-form 5.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-gpa.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-granted-specification.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-reply to examination report.pdf

1095-kolnp-2004-specification.pdf


Patent Number 240363
Indian Patent Application Number 1095/KOLNP/2004
PG Journal Number 19/2010
Publication Date 07-May-2010
Grant Date 06-May-2010
Date of Filing 30-Jul-2004
Name of Patentee OPT ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
Applicant Address 71-2, TSUTIURI 1-CHOME, KORIYAMA-SHI, FUKUSHIMA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 OHUCHI MASATOSHI C/O OPT ENGINEERING CO., LTD., 71-2, TSUTIURI 1-CHOME, KORIYAMA-SHI, FUKUSHIMA
PCT International Classification Number B21J 15/10, 15/06
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2003/09214
PCT International Filing date 2003-07-18
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 0 1900-01-01 Japan