PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPTICALLY ACTIVE MEVALONOLACTONE COMPOUNDS

Abstract: The process for preparing mevalonolactone compounds is carried out by means of batch system chromatography or a simulated moving bed chromatographic process using columns filled with an optical resolution filler comprising a polysaccharide derivative. The simulated moving bed chromatographic process comprises forming a circulation flow circuit comprising a plurality of columns endlessly connected in series; enforcing a fluid to flow through the circuit in one direction; providing the column series alternately with an inlet port through which the fluid is introduced into the column in the flow direction and with an outlet port, through which the fluid is taken out; intermittently shifting activation of the inlet port and the outlet port in the direction of the fluid flow; introducing a solution containing a racemic mevalonolactone compound and an eluent through an inlet port into the circuit; and simultaneously taking out a solution rich in the weakly adsorbable substance and a solution rich in the strongly adsorbable and desorbed substance through the outlet port.

Description: This invention relates to a process for preparing optically active mevalonolactone compounds. More particularly, this invention relates to a commercial process for preparing optically active mevalonolactone compounds which are useful for prevention and treatment of hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, etc. With respect to pharmaceutical compounds which have an asymmetric center, it is known that optical isomers of some of such compounds respectively have different physiological activities. That is, often only one of the isomers has physiological effect in vivo or only one of them has terato-geneticity as seen in thalidomide. However, it is difficult to optically separate a racemic compound by a conventional method such as distillation, crystallization, etc. Thus most of the pharmaceutical compounds having an asymmetric center are marketed in the form of a racemic compound. Under the circumstances, a commercial process, by which only an optical isomer of various such pharmaceutical compounds and intermediate compounds therefor can be isolated, is strongly desired. Because, if only physiologically active and useful isomers can be used as therapeutics, a small dose suffices and abatement of undesirable side effect is expected. Although physiologically active isomers of mevalonolactone compounds are very useful for prevention and treatment of hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, etc., there has been no commercial process for optical resolution. EP-A-0520406 describes a diastereomer salt of an optically active quinolinemevalonic acid and a method for the optical resolution of quinolinemevalonic acid (±) which comprises reacting the quinolinemevalonic acid with D(+) phenethylamine and separating the resulting diastereomer salt of optically active quinolinemevalonic acid. US 4,879,038 describes the separation of a chemical substance by treating a mixture thereof with a polysaccharide having an acyl group or a carbamoyl group as a substituent for hydroxyl groups, said acyl group or carbamoyl group having a residue R which represents an atomic group having a nucleus comprising a conjugated π-bond system in which the number of bonds interposed between an atom contained therein and bonded with the carbonyl or amino group and an atom contained in the π-bond system and most distant from said atom is at least 5 even in the shortest route. US 5,354,852 describes spherical particles of an aromatic or araliphatic carbamate of a polysaccharide having a mean particle diameter of 1 to 200 µm and a specific surface area of 0.5 to 300 m 2 /g, which are useful as a stationary phase of preparative liquid chromatography without being supported on a support. EP-A-0471082 describes a process for separating optical isomers in a simulated moving bed system, characterized by introducing a solution containing an optical isomer mixture and a desorbing liquid into a packed bed containing an optical resolution packing therein and having front and rear ends thereof connected to each other endlessly via a fluid passage to circulate a fluid unidirectionally and at the same time drawing out a solution containing one of the separated isomers and another solution containing the other isomer from the packed bed, wherein a port for introducing a desorbing liquid, a port for drawing out a solution containing a strongly adsorbable optical isomer, i.e. an extract, a port for introducing a solution containing an optical isomer mixture, and a port for drawing out a solution containing a weakly adsorbable optical isomer, i.e. a raffinate, are arranged in the packed bed in this order along the direction of fluid flow and the positions of these ports are successively moved in the direction of fluid flow in the packed bed intermittently. EP-A-0563388 describes a process for recovering optical isomers and a solvent in optical resolution by introducing a liquid containing an optical isomer mixture and an eluent into a packed bed containing packings for optical resolution, having both ends connected to each other through a fluid passage to be endless and circulating the liquids therein by one-way flow, and simultaneously recovering a liquid containing one optical isomer and a liquid containing the other optical isomer which are separated from the packed bed, characterized by arranging an inlet for the eluent, an outlet for a liquid (extract) containing an strongly adsorbable optical isomer, an inlet for the liquid containing an optical isomer mixture, and an outlet for a liquid (raffinate) containing a weakly adsorbable optical isomer in this order in the direction of liquid flow onto the packed bed, and recovering the solvent and optical isomers from the extract and/or raffinate obtained with a simulated moving bed system that the inlets and the outlets are intermittently and successively moved in the direction of liquid flow in the bed. The object of this invention is to solve the above-described problem. In other words, the object of this invention is to isolate optically active isomers of mevalonolactone compounds with high purity in a commercial scale. This object is achieved by a process for preparing an optically active mevalonolactone compound comprising conducting optical resolution of the racemic form of an optically active mevalonolactone compound of general formula (5) wherein R is a carbocyclic aromatic group, heterocyclic aromatic group or a fused ring hetencyclic aromatic group having a sp 2 carbon atom; and Z is a group represented by general formula (6): wherein A stands for R 1 is a hydrogen atom, a straight chain or branched C 1-4 alkyl group, a phenyl group or an aralkyl group; or is represented by general formula (7): by means of batch system chromatography which uses a column filled with a filler selected from a group consisting of particles of a polysaccharide derivative and particles of a support which carries a polysaccharide derivative, wherein the polysaccharide derivative is derived from polysaccharides in which not less than 30% of the hydrogen atoms on the hydroxy groups or amino groups of the polysaccharide are substituted with atom groups represented by any of the following chemical formulas (1) to (4): wherein R stands for an aromatic group which may contain a hetero atom and may be unsubstituted or substituted with at least one selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, an alkylthio group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a halogen atom, an acyl group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms, a hydroxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an amino group and an alkylamino group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms; and X stands for a hydrocarbon group having 1 - 4 carbon atoms, which may contain a double bond or triple bond. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing an optically active mevalonolactone compound comprising conducting optical resolution of the racemic form of an optically active mevalonolactone compound of general formula (5) wherein R is a carbocylic aromatic group, heterocyclic aromatic group or a fused ring heterocyclic aromatic group having a sp 2 carbon atom; and Z is a group represented by general formula (6): wherein A stands for R 1 is a hydrogen atom, a straight chain or branched C 1-4 alkyl group, a phenyl group or an aralkyl group; or is represented by general formula (7): in a circulation flow circuit comprising a plurality of columns filled with an optical resolution filler and endlessly connected in series; by enforcing a fluid to flow through the circuit in one direction; providing each column with an inlet port through which the fluid is introduced into the column in the flow direction and with an outlet port, through which the fluid is taken out; intermittently shifting the working position of the inlet port and a suitably-spaced outlet port in the direction of the fluid flow; introducing a solution containing the racemic mevalonolactone compound and an eluent through an inlet port into the circuit; and simultaneously taking cut a solution rich in the weakly-adsorbable and a solution rich in the strongly adsorbable optical isomer through the outlet port, wherein the optical resolution filler is selected from the group consisting of particles of a polysaccharide derivative and particles of a support which carries a polysaccharide derivative, wherein the polysaccharide derivative is derived from polysaccharides in which not less than 30% of the hydrogen atoms on the hydroxy groups or amino groups of the polysaccharide are substituted with atom groups represented by any of the following chemical formulas (1) to (4): wherein R stands for an aromatic group which may contain a hetero atom and may be unsubstituted or substituted with at least one selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, an alkylthio group having 1 -12 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a halogen atom, an acyl group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group having 1- 8 carton atoms, a hydroxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 -12 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an amino group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an amino group and an alkylamino group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms; and X stands for a hydrocarbon group having 1 - 4 carbon atoms, which may contain a double bond or triple bond. Preferably the optically active mevalonolactone compound used in the present invention is ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)quinolin-3-yl]-5-hydroxy-3-oxo-6-heptenoate or ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate. Mevalonolactone compounds handled in the process of the present invention are represented by a chemical formula (5) wherein R is a carbocyclic aromatic group, heterocyclic aromatic group or fused ring heterocyclic aromatic groups having a sp 2 carbon atom; and Z is a group represented by a chemical formula (6) : wherein A stands for R 1 is a hydrogen atom, a straight chain or branched C 1-4 alkyl, phenyl or aralkyl; or a chemical formula (7): Specific examples of the mevalonolactone compounds represented by chemical formula (5) are ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4(4-fluorophenyl)quinolin-3-yl]-5-hydroxy-3-oxo-6-heptenoate represented by formula (8), ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4(4-fluorophenyl)quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-hydroxy-6-heptenoate represented by formula (9) and 6-[2-{2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl}ethenyl]-4-hydroxy-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-on represented by formula (10) Now we will discuss the optical resolution fillers used in the present invention. The polysaccharide of the above-mentioned polysaccharide derivative can be any of naturally occurring polysaccharide, modified natural polysaccharide, synthesized polysaccharide as well as oligo sugars. They can be used without any limitation insofar as they are optically active. Specific examples of the polysaccharides are: α-1,4-glucane (starch, glycogen, amylose), β-1,4-glucan (cellulose), α-1,6-glucan (dextran), β-1,3-glucan (curdlan, schizophylan), α-1,3-glucan, β-1,2-glucan (Crawn Gall polysaccharide) α-1,6-mannan, β-1,4-mannan, β-1,2-fructan (inuline), β-2,6-fructan (levan), β-1,4-xylan, β-1,3-xylan, β-1,4-chitosan, β-1,4-N-acetylchitosan (chitin), α-1,3-1,6-glucan (mutan), pullulan, agalose, arginic acid, etc. The number average polymerization degree (an average number of pyranose or furanose rings) of these polysaccharides is up to 2,000. However, it is preferably not more than 500 in view of ease in handling. As oligo sugars, maltose, maltotetraose, maltopentose, maltohexose, maltoheptose, isomaltose, eruose, paratinose, maltitol, maltotriisotol, maltotetraitol, isomaltitol, α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, gamma-cyclodextrin, etc. can be referred to. As mentioned before the polysaccharide derivatives are polysaccharide compounds, of which part of or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxy or amino groups is substituted with at least one of atom groups represented by the chemical formulas (1), (2), (3) and (4) : wherein R stands for an aromatic group which may contain a hetero atom and may be unsubstituted or substituted with at least one selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, an alkylthio group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a halogen atom, an acyl group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms, a hydroxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an amino group and an alkylamino group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms. Examples of the aromatic groups are phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl, antracyl,indenyl, indanyl, furyl, thionyl, pyryl, benzofuryl, benzothionyl, indyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, etc. Of these, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, etc. are preferred. X stands for a hydrocarbon group having 1 - 4 carbon atoms, which may contain a double bond or triple bond. Examples of X are methylene, ethylene, ethylidene, ethenylene, ethynylene, 1,2- or 1,3-propylene, 1,1- or 2,2-propylidine group, etc. The degree of substitution with these atom groups is not less than 30 %, preferably not less than 50 % and more preferably not less than 80 %. The polysaccharides having the above substituents can be prepared by reacting an acid chloride or an isocyanate with the hydroxy or amino groups of a polysaccharide. The particle size of the polysaccharide derivatives is usually 1 µm - 1 mm, preferably 5 µm - 300 µm. The particles of the polysaccharide derivatives may be poreless but it is preferred that they are porous. The pore diameter of the porous particles is 10 Å - 100 µm, preferably 10 Å - 5,000 Å. In the process of the present invention, particles on which the above-described polysaccharide derivatives are supported, can be used as an optical resolution filler. Organic and inorganic substances which can support the above-mentioned polysaccharide derivatives can be used as supports. Examples of the organic supports are particles of polymers such as polystyrene, polyacrylamide, polyacrylate, etc. Examples of inorganic supports are silica gel, alumina, magnesia, zirconia, glass, kaolin, titanium oxide, silicate salts, diatomaceous earth, etc. The supports may be treated for modification of surface properties. These supports usually have a particle size of 1 µm - 1 mm, preferably 5 µm - 300 µm. The particles may be poreless although it is preferred that they are porous. When they are porous, the pore size is 10 Å - 100 µm, preferably 100 Å - 5,000 Å. µm. The amount of the above-described polysaccharide derivatives is usually 1 - 100 wt% of the amount of the support, preferably 5 - 50 wt%. With not more than 1 wt%, optical resolution of a mevalonolactone may not be satisfactorily effected. If the amount is in excess of 100 wt%, corresponding effect may not be expected. In the process of this invention, as organic solvents, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, hydrocarbons such as hexane as well as a mixed solvent such as a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an alcohol, can be used as eluent for both batch system chromatography and simulated moving bed chromatographic process. A preferred eluent can be suitably selected depending upon the species of the mevalonolactone compound subjected to optical resolution. The batch system chromatography employed in the present invention is known per se and commonly used. The simulated moving bed chromatographic process comprises forming a flow circuit by endlessly connecting in series a plurality of columns filled with the optical resolution filler; enforcing a fluid to circulate through the circuit in one direction; providing the columns with an inlet port through which the fluid is introduced into the circuit in the direction of the fluid flow and an outlet port through which the liquid is taken out; shifting the working positions of the inlet port and a suitably spaced outlet port intermittently in the direction of the fluid flow; introducing a solution containing a racemic compound which should be optically separated and an eluent through an inlet port; and simultaneously taking out a solution rich in the weakly adsorbed substances and a solution rich in the strongly adsorbed and desorbed substances through an outlet port. In the simulated moving bed chromatographic process, a simulated moving bed, which comprises a plurality (12 or 8, for instance) of columns which are serially arranged in the circuit as shown in Fig. 1, is used. The fluid flows only in one direction. The number of the unit columns is not limited to the numbers indicated above but it can be suitably selected depending upon operation scale, consideration on chemical engineering conditions, etc. In this simulated moving bed, an inlet port for an eluent; an outlet port through which a solution containing an optical isomer easily adsorbable by the filler (extract) is taken out; an inlet port through which a solution containing a racemic compound is introduced; and an outlet port through which a solution containing an optical isomer not easily adsorbed by the filler (raffinate) is taken out are assigned in this order in the direction of fluid flow; and the working positions of these ports are intermittently and successively shifted in the direction of fluid flow. In a simulated moving bed as shown in Fig. 1, an inlet port for introducing the eluent; an outlet port for taking out the extract; an inlet port for introducing a solution containing a racemic compound; and an outlet port for taking out the raffinate are respectively assigned at every third unit column. In order to intermittently and successively shift the role of the inlet ports and outlet ports, rotary valve, electromagnetic valve, air-actuated valve, etc. are used. Separation by adsorption of a mevalonolactone compound in the simulated moving bed chromatographic process is basically effected by continuously and cyclically carrying out the adsorption step, the concentration step, the desorption step and the eluent recovery step. (1) Adsorption step A mevalonolactone compound in the form of racemic mixture is made contact with the optical resolution filler, whereby an optical isomer which is strongly adsorbed by the filler (the adsorbable) is adsorbed, and another optical isomer which is not easily adsorbed by the filler (the weakly adsorbable) is recovered together with the eluent. (2) Concentration step The optical resolution filler which has adsorbed the adsorbable is contacted with a portion of the extract described below and the weakly adsorbable which is retained on the optical resolution filler is expelled and thus the adsorbable is concentrated. (3) Desorption step The optical resolution filler which has adsorbed the strongly adsorbable is contacted with the eluent, the adsorbable is expelled from the filler and taken out of the simulating moving bed together with the eluent as extract. (4) Eluent recovery step The optical resolution filler which contains substantially the eluent only is contacted with a portion of the raffinate and a portion of the eluent contained in the optical resolution filler is recovered as an eluent recovery. The process is more specifically described with reference to the attached drawing. In Fig. 1, unit columns 1 - 12 are filled with an optical resolution filler and they are mutually connected with fluid passages. The eluent is introduced through an eluent supply conduit 13: the extract is taken out through an extract conduit 14, the solution containing a racemic compound is supplied via conduit 15, the raffinate is taken out through a raffinate conduit 16 and the fluid is recirculated through a recirculation conduit 17 by means of a pump 18. In the state of the unit columns 1 - 12 and conduits 13 - 16 as indicated in Fig. 1, desorption is effected in unit columns 1 - 3, concentration is effected in unit columns 4 - 6, adsorption is effected in unit columns 7 - 9 and eluent recovery is effected in unit columns 10 - 12. In the simulated moving bed like this, the working positions of the eluent supply conduit, the conduit which supplies a solution containing a racemic compound, respective extract conduits are shifted one unit column by one unit column in the fluid flow direction at a constant time interval by operation of valves. In the second stage, therefore, desorption is effected in unit columns 2 - 4, concentration is effected in unit columns 5 - 7, adsorption is effected in unit columns 8 - 10 and eluent recovery is effected in unit columns 11 - 1. By repeating this operation successively, each step is carried out in a set of unit columns which is shifted one column by one column. Thus optical resolution of a mevalonolactone is efficiently achieved. The extract taken out of the simulated moving bed in accordance with this invention contains an optical isomer at so high purity as not less than 90 %, specifically not less than 95 % or 98 % for instance, and the raffinate contains the other isomer with the same level of the optical purity. The simulated moving bed to be used for the process of the present invention is not limited to the one shown in Fig. 1 but also the one as indicated in Fig. 2 can be used. In the arrangement of unit columns 1 - 8 and conduits 13 - 16 as shown in Fig. 2, eluent recovery is effected in unit column 1, adsorption is effected in unit columns 2 - 5, concentration is effected in unit columns 6 - 7 and desorption is effected in unit column 8 in the first stage. In this simulated moving bed, the supply conduits and the taking-out conduits are shifted unit column by unit column by valve operation at a constant time interval in the direction of fluid flow. Thus in the next stage, eluent recovery is effected in unit column 2, adsorption is effected in unit columns 3 - 6, concentration is effected in unit columns 7 - 8 and desorption is effected in unit column 1. In Fig. 1, the extract is concentrated in a first falling film evaporator 19, the concentrate is further concentrated in a second falling film evaporator 20, still further in a wiped film evaporator 21; the recovered solvent is stored temporarily in a recovery tank 22, the concentrated solution containing a concentrated optical isomer is stored in a storage tank 23, the raffinate is racemized in a racemization tank 24 and the solvent stored in the recovery tank 22 is concentrated in an evaporator 25. Meanwhile, the raffinate contains the optical isomer which is an antipode of the isomer contained in the extract. The solvent is recovered from the raffinate in the same manner as recovery of the solvent from the extract. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is the schematic presentation of an apparatus by which the process of the present invention is carried out. Fig. 2 is the schematic presentation of another apparatus by which the process of the present invention is carried out. Embodiments of the Invention Now the invention is described by way of working examples. Needless to say, the invention is not limited to these examples only but can be worked with suitable modifications within the scope of the claims. Terms used in the working examples are defined as follows. Capacity factor k' = {(retention time of antipode) - (dead time)} / (dead time) Separation factor α = (volume ratio of strongly-adsorbed antipode) / (volume ratio of weakly-adsorbed antipode) Resolution factor Rs = 2 x (distance between peaks of strongly-adsorbed antipode and weakly-adsorbed antipode) / (sum of bands of two peaks) Example 1 Using a column 0.46 cm in inner diameter and 25 cm in length filled with silica gel supporting cellulose tris(p-chlorophenylcarbamate)("CHIRALCEL OF" marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. ), the (3R,5S) body and the (3S, 5R) body of ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate were optically separated. Conditions of liquid phase chromatography, retention time of the two isomers, capacity factor, separation factor, resolution factor and order of elution are indicated in Table 1. Example 2 Using a column 0.46 cm in inner diameter and 25 cm in length filled with silica gel supporting cellulose tris(p-methylphenylbenzoate) ("CHIRALCEL OJ" marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. ), the (3R,5S) body and the (3S, 5R) body of ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate were optically separated. Conditions of liquid phase chromatography, retention time of the two isomers, capacity factor, separation factor, resolution factor and order of elusion are indicated in Table 1. Example 3 Using a column 0.46 cm in inner diameter and 25 cm in length filled with silica gel supporting cellulose triphenylcarbamate ("CHIRALCEL OC" marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), the (3R,5S) body and the (3S, 5R) body of ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate were optically separated. Conditions of liquid phase chromatography, retention time of the two isomers, capacity factor, separation factor, resolution factor and order of elution are indicated in Table 1. Example 4 Using a column 0.46 cm in inner diameter and 25 cm in length filled with silica gel supporting cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) ("CHIRALCEL OD" marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. ), the (3R,5S) body and the (3S, 5R) body of ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate were optically separated. Conditions of liquid phase chromatography, retention time of the two isomers, capacity factor, separation factor, resolution factor and order of elution are indicated in Table 1. Example 5 Using a column 0.46 cm in inner diameter and 25 cm in length filled with silica gel supporting cellulose tris(p-methylphenylcarbamate)("CHIRALCEL OG" marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), the (3R,5S) body and the (3S, 5R) body of ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate were optically separated. Conditions of liquid phase chromatography, retention time of the two isomers, capacity factor, separation factor, resolution factor and order of elution are indicated in Table 1. Example 6 Using a column 0.46 cm in inner diameter and 25 cm in length filled with silica gel supporting amylose tris((s)-1-phenylethylcarbamate) ("CHIRALPAK AS" marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), racemic ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-5-hydroxy-3-oxo-6-heptenoate was optically separated. Conditions of liquid phase chromatography, retention time of the two isomers, capacity factor, separation factor, resolution factor and order of elution are indicated in Table 2. Example 7 Using a column 0.46 cm in inner diameter and 25 cm in length filled with silica gel supporting amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) ("CHIRALPAK AD" marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), racemic ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-5-hydroxy-3-oxo-6-heptenoate were optically separated. Conditions of liquid phase chromatography, retention time of the two isomers, capacity factor, separation factor, resolution factor and order of elution are indicated in Table 2. Example 8 To a simulated moving bed chromatographic apparatus, which comprises eight (8) columns, each having an inner diameter of 1 cm and a length of 25 cm filled with silica gel supporting cellulose tris(p-chlorophenylcarbamate) ("CHIRALCEL OF", particle diameter 20 µm, marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.) racemic ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy- 6-heptenoate ((3R, 5S) isomer and (3S, 5R) isomer) was supplied at a rate of 1.0 ml/min (racemic mixture concentration 3.5 mg/ml). The apparatus was operated under the following conditions: Eluent: n-hexane/2-propanol (8 / 2 vol) mixture Supply rate of eluent: 7 ml/min Flow rate at outlet for solution rich in strongly adsorbable: 5.6 ml/min Flow rate at outlet for solution rich in weakly adsorbable: 2.4 ml/min Shift interval: 21.0 min Temperature: room temp. As a result, out of the outlet port for the fluid rich in the strongly adsorbable, ethyl (-)-7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate ((3S,5R) isomer) was obtained with a concentration of 530 ppm and an optical purity of 65 %ee. Out of the outlet port for the fluid rich in the weakly adsorbable, ethyl (+)-7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate ((3R,5S) isomer) was obtained with a concentration of 894 ppm and an optical purity of 100 %ee. Example 9 To a simulated moving bed chromatographic apparatus, which comprises eight (8) columns, each having an inner diameter of 1 cm and a length of 25 cm filled with cellulose tris(p-chlorophenylcarbamate) ("CHIRALCEL OF", particle diameter 20 µm, marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. ), communicably connected in series, racemic ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate ((3R, 5S) isomer and (3S, 5R) isomer) was supplied at a rate of 2.0 ml/min (racemic mixture concentration 5.0 mg/ml). The apparatus was operated under the following conditions: Eluent: n-hexane/2-propanol (8 : 2 vol) mixture Supply rate of eluent: 7.2 ml/min Flow rate at outlet for solution rich in strongly adsorbable: 7.2 ml/min Flow rate at outlet for the solution rich in the weakly adsorbable: 4.8 ml/min Shift interval: 9.25 min Temperature: 25°C As a result, out of the outlet port for the fluid rich in the strongly adsorbable, ethyl (-)-7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate ((3S,5R) isomer) was obtained with a concentration of 1233 ppm and an optical purity of 45 %ee. Out of the outlet for the fluid rich in the weakly adsorbable, ethyl (+)-7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate ((3R,5S) isomer) was obtained with a concentration of 1146 ppm and an optical purity of 99 %ee. Industrial applicability In accordance with the present invention, mevalonolactone compounds can be efficiently separated and high optical purity mevalonolactone compound can be prepared.

Claims: A process for preparing an optically active mevalonolactone compound comprising conducting optical resolution of the racemic form of an optically active mevalonolactone compound of general formula (5) wherein R is a carbocyclic aromatic group, heterocyclic aromatic group or a fused ring heterocyclic aromatic group having a sp 2 carbon atom; and Z is a group represented by general formula (6): wherein A stands for R 1 is a hydrogen atom, a straight chain or branched C 1-4 alkyl group, a phenyl group or an aralkyl group; or is represented by general formula (7): by means of batch system chromatography which uses a column filled with a filler selected from a group consisting of particles of a polysaccharide derivative and particles of a support which carries a polysaccharide derivative, wherein the polysaccharide derivative is derived from polysaccharides in which not less than 30% of the hydrogen atoms on the hydroxy groups or amino groups of the polysaccharide are substituted with atom groups represented by any of the following chemical formulas (1) to (4): wherein R stands for an aromatic group which may contain a hetero atom and may be unsubstituted or substituted with at least one selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 -12 carbon atoms, an alkylthio group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a halogen atom, an acyl group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms, a hydroxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an amino group and an alkylamino group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms; and X stands for a hydrocarbon group having 1 - 4 carbon atoms, which may contain a double bond or triple bond. A process for preparing an optically active mevalonolactone compound comprising conducting optical resolution of the racemic form of an optically active mevalonolactone compound of general formula (5) wherein R is a carbocylic aromatic group, heterocyclic aromatic group or a fused ring heterocyclic aromatic group having a sp 2 carbon atom; and Z is a group represented by general formula (6): wherein A stands for R 1 is a hydrogen atom, a straight chain or branched C 1-4 alkyl group, a phenyl group or an aralkyl group; or is represented by general formula (7): in a circulation flow circuit comprising a plurality of columns filled with an optical resolution filler and endlessly connected in series; by enforcing a fluid to flow through the circuit in one direction; providing each column with an inlet port through which the fluid is introduced into the column in the flow direction and with an outlet port, through which the fluid is taken out; intermittently shifting the working position of the inlet port and a suitably-spaced outlet port in the direction of the fluid flow; introducing a solution containing the racemic mevalonolactone compound and an eluent through an inlet port into the circuit; and simultaneously taking out a solution rich in the weakly-adsorbable and a solution rich in the strongly adsorbable optical isomer through the outlet port; wherein the optical resolution filler is selected from the group consisting of particles of a polysaccharide derivative and particles of a support which carries a polysaccharide derivative, wherein the polysaccharide derivative is derived from polysaccharides in which not less than 30% of the hydrogen atoms on the hydroxy groups or amino groups of the polysaccharide are substituted with atom groups represented by any of the following chemical formulas (1) to (4): wherein R stands for an aromatic group which may contain a hetero atom and may be unsubstituted or substituted with at least one selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, an alkylthio group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a halogen atom, an acyl group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group having 1- 8 carton atoms, a hydroxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an amino group having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an amino group and an alkylamino group having 1 - 8 carbon atoms; and X stands for a hydrocarbon group having 1 - 4 carbon atoms, which may contain a double bond or triple bond. The process of claim 1 or 2, wherein the optically active mevalonolacton compound is ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)quinolin-3-yl]-5-hydroxy-3-oxo-6-heptenoate or ethyl 7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl) quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoate.

Inventors: IKEDA HIROKAZU, KANDA HIROYASHU, MATSUMOTO HIROO, MURAKAMI TATSUSHI, OHARA YOSHIO, IKEDA, HIROKAZU, KANDA, HIROYASHU, MATSUMOTO, HIROO, MURAKAMI, TATSUSHI, OHARA, YOSHIO, KANDA, Hiroyashu Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., MATSUMOTO, Hiroo Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., OHARA, Yoshio Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.
Applicants: DAICEL CHEM, NISSAN CHEMICAL IND LTD, DAICEL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD., NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LIMITED
Application year: 1995
Main classification: C07C59
IPC codes: B01D15, C07C59, C07D215, C07D405