Process for the preparation of the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetyl-aminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]-benzamide and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of (+)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-hydroxybutylamine of formula (I) and for the preparation of the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetylamino-piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl] benzamide and of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts using the compound of formula (I) as synthesis intermediate.

Description: Dextrorotatory 2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-hydroxybutylamine of the formula is a key intermediate in the synthesis of tachykinin antagonists. The compound (I) is described in the European patent applications 0 428 434, 0 474 561, 0 515 240 and O 559 538. According to the above documents, the compound (I) is prepared by resolving the racemate via its D-(-)-tartrate. It has been found that treating racemic 3-cyano-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)propionic acid with D-(-)- N-methylglucamine effects a second-order asymmetric conversion to give (-)-3-cyano-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-propionic acid, which, on enantioconservative reduction with a borane, gives the compound (I). It has also been found that the compound of formula (I) can be obtained from 3,4-dichlorophenylacetonitrile by reaction with an alkali metal halogenoacetate, preferably sodium chloroacetate, resolution of the 3-cyano-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)propionic acid in situ and enantioconservative reduction as indicated above. This process is disclosed in EP-A-0 612 716. The compound of formula (I) is particularly suitable for the preparation of the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetylaminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]benzamide or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, such as hydrochloride or methanesulfonate. This compound possesses advantageous pharmacological properties as antagonist of neurokinin A receptors and is useful, in particular, for the treatment of any neurokinin A dependent-pathology. The preparation of the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4(4-phenyl-4-acetylaminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]benzamide from the optically pure (+)-β-hydroxyethyl-3,4- dichlorobenzeneethanamine is disclosed in EP-A-O 474 561 (example 72). Thus, the object of the invention is a process for preparing the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetylaminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl] benzamide and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts which comprises: (a) reacting a compound of formula (I) with a functional derivative of benzoic acid, (b) reacting the (-)-N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-hydroxybutyl]benzamide thus obtained of formula (VIII) with dihydropyrane, (c) reacting the O-protected compound thus obtained of formula (IX) with dimethylsulfate, (d) O-deprotecting the compound thus obtained of formula (X) in an acidic medium, (e) treating the compound thus obtained of formula (XI) with a functional derivative of benzenesulfonic acid, (f) reacting the benzenesulfonate thus obtained of formula (XII) with 4-acetylamino-4-phenylpiperidine,and (g) isolating the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetylaminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]benzamide as such, or if desired, converting it to one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The functional derivative of benzoic acid used in step (a) may be the acid itself, activated for example with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, its chloride, its anhydride, a mixed anhydride or an active ester. In step (b), the O-protection may be carried out in the presence of an acid, for example methanesulfonic acid. In step (c) the reaction with dimethyl sulfate is carried out in the presence of sodium hydride in a polar aprotic solvent such as dimethylformamide. The O-deprotection of step (d) may be carried out, in an acidic medium, using for example hydrochloric or methane sulfonic acid, or also a H + resin such as AMBERLIST ® 15, in methanol. As functional derivative of benzenesulfonic acid, its chloride or its anhydride is preferably used in step (e). In step (f) the reaction of compound (XII) with 4-acetylamino-4-phenylpiperidine is carried out, preferably, in a polar aprotic solvent such as dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide or acetonitrile in the presence of a base such as sodium or potassium carbonate, triethylamine or 4-dimethylaminopyridine. The (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetylaminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-butyl]benzamide thus obtained is isolated in form of free base or of one of its salts, for example the hydrochloride, the fumarate or the succinate. It is also possible to isolate the product for example as a fumarate salt and converting it in another salt by previously neutralizing it and treating the free base with an acid, for example succinic acid. When the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetyl-aminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]-benzamide is obtained in the form of a free base, salt formation is effected by treatment with the chosen acid in an organic solvent. Treatment of the free base, for example dissolved in an alcohol such as isopropanol, with a solution of the chosen acid in the same solvent gives the corresponding salt, which is isolated by the conventional techniques. The hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulfate, hydrogensulfate, dihydrogenphosphate, methanesulfonate, methylsulfate, oxalate, maleate, fumarate and naphthalene-2-sulfonate, for example, are prepared in this way. According to this process, it is possible to combine two or more steps to carry out them in one pot. For example, steps (a) and (b) may be combined in order to obtain compound (VIII) directly starting from compound (I). Analogously, N-methylation and O-deprotection of steps (c) and (d) may be combined and compound (X) may be obtained without isolating (IX). Also the final steps (e), (f) and (g) may be combined. Other combinations of more than two steps may be envisaged and it is also possible to carry out the whole process in one pot, which means that two or more steps are linked without isolating the synthesis intermediates, thus making the process more simple. EXAMPLE 1 (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetylaminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]-benzamide (a) To a solution of 5.85 kg of (+)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-hydroxybutylamine (I) and 3.0 kg of triethylamine in 25 ml of dichloromethane there are added 3.52 kg of benzoyl chloride, dissolved in 15 l of dichloromethane, at a temperature lower than 15°C. The mixture is treated with 20 l of ice-water, then the aqueous phase is decanted, extracted with 10 l of dichloromethane and eliminated. The collected organic phases are collected, washed with 5% hydrochloric acid, then with a 5% aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, with water and dried over sodium sulfate. b) To the solution thus obtained, containing compound (VIII), 2.5 kg of dihydropyrane, 10 g of methanesulfonic acid are added and it is stirred 3 hours at room temperature (about 22°C). When the reaction is over, the reaction mixture is concentrated, the concentrate is dissolved in 30 l of isopropyl ether and let to crystallize. Compound (IX) thus obtained is filtered, washed with isopropyl ether and dried under vacuum. Yield : 85 % from (I). c) A solution of 6.8 g of (IX) in 10 l of dimethylformamide are added to a suspension of 0.90 kg of 60% sodium hydride in 5 l of dimethylformamide. When hydrogen has ceased to develop, 3.3 kg of dimethylsulfate in 5 l of toluene are added thereto. After one hour, 45 l of water and, afterwards, sodium hydroxide are added to a pH higher than 6. The solution is extracted twice with 25 l of the chloromethane and the aqueous phase is eliminated. The organic layer is washed with water to pH 7 and concentrated. (d) The above concentrate containing compound (X) is dissolved in 25 l of methanol and 0.5 kg of Amberlist® 15 is added thereto. The mixture is stirred 3 hours at 20°C- 30°C. Then the resine is filtered, washed with 5 l of methanol and the filtrate is concentrated. The residue is taken up with 25 l of toluene and let to crystallize. Compound (XI) thus obtained is filtered, washed with 5 l of toluene and dried under vacuum. Yield : 85 % from (IX). (e) To a solution of 7.06 kg of compound (XI) and 2.70 kg of triethylamine in 25 l of toluene at 60°C, 7.06 g of benzenesulfonylchloride are added. The reaction mixture is heated at 65°C over 15 minutes, then 3 hours at 45°C. When the reaction is over, the mixture is cooled to 10°C then 20 l of water are added thereto. The mixture is stirred 5 minutes, then decanted and the aqueous phase is eliminated. The organic phase is stirred with 20 l of water containing 6.2 l of a solution of 400 g/l sodium hydroxide until the total hydrolysis of the exces of benzenesulfonylchloride (3 hours at room temperature) occurs. Then the aqueous phase is eliminated, the organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under vacuum. The concentrate contains compound (XII), obtained in a 80-100% yield. (f) and (g) A portion of the concentrate obtained in step (e) corresponding to 4.93 kg (± 200 g) calculated by HPLC, and 2.20 kg of 4-acetylamino-4-phenylpiperidine in acetonitrile ar refluxed in the presence of 2 kg of potassium carbonate. When the reaction is over, the mixture is concentrated under vacuum, the residue is taken up with 50 l of water and 20 l of dichloromethane. The mixture is stirred 5 minutes and decanted. The aqueous phase is extracted with 5 l of dichloromethane and eliminated. The collected organic phases are washed twice with 50 l of 3N hydrochloric acid, then twice with 25 l of water, then once with 25 l of 2N sodium hydroxide and finally with water until a pH lower than 10. After drying over sodium sulfate, the solvent is distilled off under vacuum, the residue is taken up with 25 l of acetone and the solution is added to a suspension of 1.275 kg of fumaric acid in 25 l of acetone at reflux. The mixture is let to cool at room temperature and the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-acetylamino-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]benzamide monofumarate is filtered, washed with acetone and dried under vacuum. Yield 80%. A mixture of 6.68 kg of the product thus obtained in 30 l of dichloromethane and 20 l of water is made basic under stirring by addition of 2.5 l of an aqueous solution containing 400 g/l of sodium hydroxide. After 25 minutes of stirring, the reaction mixture is decanted, the aqueous phase is extracted with 10 l of dichloromethane and eliminated. The organic phases are collected, washed with water to a pH lower than 8, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under vacuum. Thus the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-acetylamino-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]benzamide base is obtained. The base thus obtained is dissolved in 15 l of acetone and the solution is poured into a solution of 1.24 kg of succinic acid in 25 l of acetone. After cooling, the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-acetylamino-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]-benzamide monosuccinate thus obtained is filtered, washed with 10 l of acetone and dried under vacuum at 50°C, m.p., Yield : 90%.

Claims: A process for the preparation of the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetylaminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)butyl]benzamide and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts which comprises : (a) reacting a compound of formula (I) with a functional derivative of benzoic acid, (b) reacting the (-)-N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-hydroxybutyl]benzamide thus obtained of formula (VIII) with dihydropyrane, (c) reacting the O-protected compound thus obtained of formula (IX) with dimethylsulfate, (d) O-deprotecting the compound thus obtained of formula (X) in an acidic medium, (e) treating compound thus obtained of formula (XI) with a functional derivative of benzenesulfonic acid, (f) reacting the benzenesulfonate thus obtained of formula (XII) with 4-acetylamino-4-phenylpiperidine,and (g) isolating the (-)-N-methyl-N-[4-(4-phenyl-4-acetylaminopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dichloro-phenyl)butyl]-benzamide as such ,or if desired, converting it to one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The process according to claim 1, wherein the O-protection in step (b) is carried out in the presence of an acid. The process acording to claim 1, wherein the reaction with dimethylsulfate in step (c) is carried out in the presence of sodium hydride in a polar aprotic solvent. The process acording to claim 1, wherein the reaction of the compound of formula (XII) with 4-phenyl-4-acetylaminopiperidine in step (f) is carried out in a polar aprotic solvent in the presence of a base. The process acording to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein steps (a) and (b) are combined. The process acording to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein steps (c) and (d) are combined. The process acording to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein steps (e), (f) and (g) are combined.

Inventors: ANNE-ARCHARD GILLES, DESCAMPS MARCEL, RADISSON JOEL, ANNE-ARCHARD, GILLES, DESCAMPS, MARCEL, RADISSON, JOEL
Applicants: SANOFI SA, SANOFI
Application year: 1995
Main classification: C07D211
IPC codes: C07D211