The preparation of Bevantolol--i.e., 1-[ 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine] -3-(m-tolyloxy)-2-propanol--is facilitated by contacting the reactants at relatively low temperatures.

BACKGROUND 
The compound, 1-[3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino]-3-(m-tolyloxy)-2-propanol, 
Bevantolol, is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,891. The two 
methods described in the patent for preparing this compound give low 
yields; produce undesirable side products; and require the use of 
prolonged heating and an excess of expensive starting amine reactant for 
optimum yield. A portion of the excess starting material may be recovered, 
for example by vacuum distillation, however this procedure is cumbersome 
and expensive especially when carried out on a large scale, i.e., 
manufacturing scale. 
Bevantolol and derivatives thereof, e.g., acid-addition salts, such as 
hydrochlorides, are pharmacological agents, exhibiting beta-adrenergic 
blocking function with cardio-selective activity. 
THE INVENTION 
It has been discovered that the preparation of Bevantolol (I) 
##STR1## 
and the subsequent preparation of derivatives thereof can be carried out 
via the reaction of 3-m-(tolyloxy) -1,2-epoxypropane (II) 
##STR2## 
with beta-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) ethylamine (III) 
##STR3## 
in which the initial contacting of the reactants, compounds II and III, 
takes place at relatively low temperature, i.e., at a temperature on the 
order of 0.degree. C. to 25.degree. C., with temperatures of about 
5.degree. C. to about 10.degree. highly preferred. 
In one embodiment, a two step process is employed. Step 1 involves the 
production of 3-(m-tolyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane (II). The preferred method 
of production in set forth below: 
##STR4## 
Step 2 involves the reaction of compound II with beta-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) 
ethylamine (III) to yield Bevantolol (I). The principal reaction is: 
##STR5## 
Step 2 takes place at a temperature between about 5.degree. C. and about 
10.degree. C. 
In this embodiment, the temperature of the amine-epoxide reaction is kept 
at 10.degree. C. and the mixture is seeded with crystals of Bevantolol 
base. This causes Bevantolol base to crystallize out of solution upon 
formation, thus preventing further reaction with the epoxide. After adding 
hexane and raising the temperature to 25.degree. C. to finish off the 
reaction, the free base is isolated and converted to Bevantolol 
hydrochloride in isopropyl alcohol. The overall yield is 78-79%. 
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
The process of the invention has several advantages over known methods of 
making Bevantolol and derivatives thereof. 
Principal among these advantages are: 
1. The inventive process gives improved yields or conversion values 
compared to processes involving the use of reaction temperatures of about 
25.degree. C. or more during initial contacting. 
2. The instant process uses less energy then conventional processes because 
prolonged heating is minimized. 
3. The new process can be carried out using a primary amine reactant, 
thereby obviating the need to block the free amino group. Accordingly, 
there is no need for two or more separate steps which comprise blocking 
the free amino group with a benzyl group, then removing the benzyl group 
by, e.g., catalytic reduction. An example of such a removal is the 
debenzylation of 
N-benzyl-1-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)-amino]-3(m-tolyloxy)-2-propanol 
intermediate. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
"Bevantolol" is the United States Adopted Name (USAN) recited in the United 
States Pharmacological Dictionary of Druq Names, 1982, pg. 61, (Mack 
Printing Company, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042, USA) for the compound 
1-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino]-3-(m-tolyloxy) -2-propanol (I) 
##STR6## 
The substituent in the 3-substituted phenoxy group in Bevantolol and its 
derivatives can be selected from a variety of moieties. Preferred 
substituents include lower alkoxy, chloro, cyano, hydroxyalkyl (e.g., 
hydroxymethyl), acyl (e.g., acetyl), m-lower alkyl, or o-vinylic (e.g., 
allylic) moieties. 
Bevantolol and its derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,891, 
the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
The overall process described herein involves: 
(1) contacting compounds II and III at a temperature of 20.degree. C. or 
less; 
(2) adding to the product or step (1) a minor amount of compound I 
following step (1); and 
(3) recovering the principal reaction product. 
Optionally, the principal reaction product is employed to produce other 
pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives, e.g., salts. 
Reactants 
The starting material generally employed in the process of the invention 
include at least one epoxide reactant and at least one amine reactant. 
The epoxide reactants useful herein include 3-(m-tolyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane 
(II) and those chemically equivalent forms thereof in which the 
substituents present do not significantly hamper the reactively of the 
epoxide with compound III or its chemical equivalents. The epoxide 
reactant used herein may be obtained from commercial sources. 
Alternatively, the epoxide reactant can be prepared by reacting one or more 
suitable hydroxy-substituted aromatic compounds, i.e., phenols, with one 
or more halogen-containing epoxy compounds. A typical reaction would 
involve the reaction of a cresol, e.g., m-cresol, and an epihalohydrin, 
e.g., epichlorohydrin, under suitable conditions. Suitable conditions for 
the preparation of the epoxide reactant are well known in the art. 
Suitable amine reactants are generally amines bearing one or more organic 
substituents, at least one of which comprises a substituted phenyl 
alkylene moiety. Preferred amines are monoamines having disubstituted 
phenyl alkylene groups as substituents. One highly preferred class of 
amines are those containing 3,4-dialkoxyalkylene groups, with 
beta-3,4-(dimethoxyphenyl) ethylamine being exemplary. 
Following the preparation of the Bevantolol, one or more reagents can be 
added to yield salts or other acid-addition products. Useful 
salt-producing agents include mineral acids, with hydrogen halides, 
especially hydrogen chloride, preferred. 
One preferred derivative of Bevantolol which can be made in accordance with 
the invention is the pharmaceutically active substance Bevantolol 
hydrochloride, i.e.: 
##STR7## 
For all of the reactions described herein, the reactants are supplied in 
approximately stoichiometric quantities. However, excesses of one or more 
can be employed. 
It is generally preferred that step (1) be carried out using little or no 
excess epoxide or amine reactant i.e., using stoichiometric or equimolor 
amounts. The use of an excess of either reactant produces undesirable 
--and often difficultly separable--by-products. The use of excess epoxide 
reactant can yield a bis (hydroxyalkylated) product. The use of excess 
amine, while less deleterious than the use of excess epoxide, can result 
in the production of contaminants which can hamper recovery operations. 
Reaction Conditions 
It is essential to the efficiency of the instant process that the initial 
contacting of epoxide and amine reactant take place at a temperature lower 
than room temperatures, i.e., about 25.degree. C. or less. The use of 
relatively low temperatures during the initial phase of the reaction 
dramatically improves product yields. While temperatures of about 
0.degree. C. to about 20.degree. C. are operable, it is generally 
preferred to operate, in the initial reaction stage, at temperatures of 
about 5.degree. C. to about 15.degree. C., with temperatures of about 
5.degree. C. to about 10.degree. C. highly preferred. 
The length of time for which various phases of the overall process are 
carried out can vary a great deal. Reaction parameters such as reaction 
times, pressures, etc. depend upon the nature of the specific reactants, 
and upon such factors as the type(s) of reaction vessel(s) employed, and 
the method of recovery to be employed. 
Generally, the overall time needed for the principal reaction--i.e., "Step 
2" under "The Invention," above--ranges from about 5 minutes to about 20 
hours. Typically the low temperature contacting and reaction phase takes 
place for about 5 to about 15 hours, with time periods of about 10 hours 
highly preferred. 
After the initial reaction phase, the product mixture is seeded by adding 
Bevantolol free base. The quantity of base added can be determined by 
routine experimentation. Generally, a quantity or incremental quantities 
of seeding agent are employed, with the total amount added being in excess 
of the quantity needed to start crystallization of the Bevantolol in the 
product mixture. Useful total quantities of free Bevantolol or other 
seeding agent lie between about 0 and about 1% by weight, based on the 
total weight of the reaction product, with about 0.001 weight % to about 
0.008 weight % preferred and 0.005 weight % highly preferred. 
When seeding agent is added in increments, the use of several increments, 
with additions at intervals of one to several hours can be employed. 
Generally, about 2 to about 5 increments are added, with the use of 3 
increments made in 2 hour intervals highly preferred. Seeding can be 
carried out over short or extended periods of time until it is completed. 
Seeding is completed when seed remains substantially undissolved, i.e., 
until seed no longer dissolves. Bevantolol hydrochloride and/or other 
seeding additives may replace some or all of the Bevantolol to be added. 
Following the addition of the seeding agent conventional recovery 
procedures can be employed. One preferred method calls for the addition of 
hexane or another suitable non-solvent diluent to produce a slurry. The 
slurry is stirred and heated during or after the addition of the diluent. 
After moderate heating, i.e. to a temperature on the order of 25.degree. 
C, the slurry is collected via filtration, and subjected to vacuum drying 
and/or other suitable techniques. 
The solid product can be used as such or it can then be reacted with one or 
more suitable chemicals to produce other pharmaceutically acceptable 
derivatives, e.g., salts, thereof. Purification via, e.g., 
recrystallization, can be carried out before and/or after the derivative 
is produced.

EXAMPLES 
The following examples will serve to further illustrate the invention. 
Example 1 
Preparation of 3-(m-tolyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane 
To a solution of 50 g (1.25 mol) of NaOH in 1200 ml H.sub.2 O was added 108 
g (1 mol) of m-cresol freshly distilled and at 15.degree. C. in one lot 
117ml (1.5 mol) of epichlorohydrin. The emulsion was stirred at room 
temperature for 16 hours in a creased flask. The product was taken up in 
1000 ml of toluene and washed with 500 ml water. Distillation yielded 
135.7 g=82% of product, bp 61.degree. C. (0.05 mm). 
Example 2 
Preparation of Bevantolol Hydrochloride in Accordance with the Invention 
To a suitable reactor under a nitrogen blanket is added 13.7 kg of 
beta-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) ethylamine. The amine is cooled to 5.degree. C. 
and 12.5 kg of 3-(m-tolyloxy) 1,2-epoxypropane is added maintaining the 
temperature between 5-10.degree. C. After 10 hours, the mixture is seeded 
with Bevantolol free base; seeding is repeated approximately every 2 hours 
until it is evident that crystallization has started. After stirring for 
48 hours at 10.degree. C., 26L of hexane is added. The temperature is 
raised to 25.degree. C. and stirring is continued for 48 hours. The slurry 
is filtered and the collected solid is dried under vacuum. 
The product is dissolved in 60L of isopropyl alcohol and the solution is 
filtered. The reactor and filter are rinsed with 1861 of isopropyl alcohol 
and 2.7 kg of anhydrous hydrogen chloride is added to the combined 
filtrate. The batch is heated to reflux for 2 hours. The temperature is 
adjusted to 65.degree. and the solution is seeded with Bevantolol 
hydrochloride crystals. The mixture is held at this temperature with 
stirring until a heavy sand-like slurry is present. The mixture is allowed 
to cool to ambient temperature without stirring or artificial cooling. It 
is then cooled to 20.degree. C. The slurry is centrifuged and the product 
rinsed with isopropyl alcohol until the filtrate is colorless. After being 
vacuum dried at 50-55.degree. C. the product is milled if necessary; yield 
of Bevantolol hydrochloride 22.7 Kg (78.6%). 
COMATIVE EXAMPLES 
Example 3* 
A mixture of 40.1 g (0.2 mol) of 1-chloro-3-m-tolyloxy-2-propanol and 72.4 
g (0.4 mol) of 3,4is heated at 95-100.degree. C. for 18 hours, cooled and 
then stirred with ethyl acetate. Insoluble 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine 
hydrochloride is removed by filtration. The filtrate is washed with water, 
dried, and evaporated to give a residue of 
1-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino]-3-m-tolyloxy-2-propanol. 
The hydrochloride is obtained by dissolving this free base in 2-propanol 
and adding a slight excess of hydrogen chloride in 2-propanol. The 
insoluble hydrochloride salt is collected on a filter, washed with diethyl 
ether, and dried; mp 137-138 .degree. C. following crystallization from 
acetonitrile, yield 44.4 grams, 58% based on the starting alcohol or 29% 
when based on the starting amine. 
Example 4** 
A mixture of 8.2 g (0.05 mol) of 1.2-epoxy-3-m-tolyloxypropane and 9.05 g 
(0.05 mol) of 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine is heated at 95.degree. 
C.-100.degree. C. for one hour, cooled, and then stirred with ether. The 
insoluble product is collected on a filter. It is 
1-[3,4-dimethoxy-phenethyl) amino]-3-m-tolyloxy-2-propanol. 
The hydrochloride is obtained by dissolving this free base in 2-propanol 
and adding a slight excess of hydrogen chloride in 2-propanol. The 
insoluble hydrochloride salt is collected on a filter washed with diethyl 
ether, and dried; mp 137-138.degree. C. following crystallization from 
acetonitrile. Yield variable, but does not exceed 50%. 
Example 5 
A solution of 16.4 g (0.1 mol) of 3-(m-tolyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane and 18.1 
g (0.1 mol) of 3.4-dimethoxy-phenethylamine in 50 ml of toluene was 
allowed to stand at room temperature for two days. The reaction mixture 
was diluted with 100 ml of toluene, washed with 2.times.25 ml portions of 
water, the toluene was evaporated, the crude product dissolved in 250 ml 
ethyl acetate (or 70 ml 2-propanol) and anhydrous HCl introduced with 
cooling. The product was filtered, washed with 100 ml ethyl acetate and 
dried at 70.degree. C. to give 184=48% of crude product, mp 
130-132.degree. C. Recrystallization from acetonitrile gave 16.6 g=43.5% 
of product with mp 137-138.degree. C. 
Reasonable variations, such as those which would occur to a skilled 
artisan, can be made herein without departing from the scope of the 
invention.