Patent ID: 6693215
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the preparation of L-carnitine mucate or of an alkanoyl L-carnitine mucate with general formula (I) where R is hydrogen or a straight of branched alkanoyl group with 2-6 carbon atoms, comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving L-carnitine chloride or alkanoyl L-carnitine chloride in distilled water at a temperature ranging from ambient temperature to 100Â° C. to yield a solution; (b) treating the step (a) solution with a suitable exchanger resin to yield L-carnitine or alkanoyl L-carnitine inner salt in aqueous solution; (c) distilling the step (b) L-carnitine or alkanoyl L-carnitine inner salt solution until an aqueous solution is obtained containing 60% weight by weight of L-carnitine inner salt or alkanoyl L-carnitine inner salt; (d) adding to the step (c) solution a suitable amount of mucic acid to yield a solution in which the mucic acid is dissolved together with the L-carnitine or alkanoyl L-carnitine; (e) adding to the step (d) solution a suitable amount of organic solvent as a precipitating agent; wherein two liquid phases are transformed under stirring into a suspension of the inner salt; (f) isolating the step (e) precipitate; and optionally (g) drying the step (f) precipitate.