AN INTERMEDIATE AND PROCESS FOR ITS SYNTHESIS

Abstract: The invention relates to the compound of formula (I) and to a process for procuding the compound of formula (I).

Description: AN INTERMEDIATE AND PROCESS FOR ITS SYNTHESIS The invention relates to a new intermediate, the (2 -methyl- l-imidazolyl)-9-methyl-3- hydroxymethyl-l,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate of formula (I). (I) The invention also relates to the process for the synthesis of the above compound. It is well known that ondansetron (chemical name l,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-[(2-methyl- lH-imidazol-l-yl)-methyl]-4H-carbazolon-4-on), together with its physiologically acceptable salts and solvates, may be used in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including the nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy (as described in EP Pat. 226,266). Several chemical processes are known from the literature for the synthesis of ondansetron; see for example GB Pat. 2,153,821 or 2,192,885 or EP Pat. 595,111. It was found, as a basis of our invention, that besides the intermediates described, a new, useful intermediate can be synthesised during the investigation of the synthetic pathway published in the European patent number 595,111, which summarises the results of our own research. This new intermediate can simply be converted into the known drug substance, ondansetron hydrochloride dihydrate. According to the above mentioned facts the invention relates to (2 -methyl- l-imidazolyl)-9- methyl-3-hydroxymethyl- 1 ,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate of formula (I). The invention also relates to the process for the synthesis of (2 -methyl- l-imidazolyl)-9- methyl-3-hydroxymethyl-l,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate of formula (I). According to our invention a known compound (see: EP Pat. 595,111); 9-methyl-3- hydroxymethyl-l,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-one-3-glyoxilic acid lactone of formula (II) (II) is reacted with 2-methylimidazol and the product [formula (I)] is isolated. The invention is illustrated by the following examples. Example 1. Synthesis of (2-methyl- 1 -imidazolyl)-9-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl- 1 ,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H- carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate (I) The reaction pathway: (I") Detailed description: To a suspension of 22.0 g (0.077 mol) of 9-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl-l,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H- carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylic acid lactone and 7.2 g (0.088 mol) of 2-methyl-imidazol in 240 ml of chloroform and 120 ml of water, 1.2 g of benzyltriethylammonium chloride was added and the mixture was stirred at 22-24°C for 3 hours. The precipitated crystals were filtered off, washed three times with 50 ml of water and dried at 60°C until the weight has stabilised to yield 28 g (94%) of the title compound. Mp.: 134-136°C. Example 2 Synthesis of 2-methyl- 1 -imidazolyl-9-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl- 1 ,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H- carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate (I) The reaction pathway: (I) Detailed description: To a solution of 15 g (0.05 mol) of 9-methyl-3-ethoxalyl-l,2,3,9-tetrahidro-4H-carbazol-4-on (III) in 150 ml of dioxane 5.5 g of 35% formaldehyde solution and 12 g (0.15 mol) of 2- methylimidazol were added and the mixture was stirred at 20-25°C for 3-4 h. The reaction mixture was then allowed to cool to 5°C, the crystals were filtered off, washed twice with 25 ml of dioxane and dried below 60°C to yield 18 g (94%) of the title compound. Mp.: 132- 135°C. Example 3 Synthesis of ondansetron hydrochloride dihydrate To a suspension 10 g (0,026 mol) of (2-methyl-l-imidazolyl)-9-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl- l,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate in 150 ml of dioxane 4,3 g (0,052 mol) of 2-methyl-imidazol was added. After stirring at 100 °C in nitrogen atmosphere for 1 hour, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25-30 °C, 45 ml of water was added and stirred at 20 °C for 1 hour. The crystals were filtered off, washed twice with 30 ml of water, to give 5,3 g of ondansetron base. To the crude base was added 42 ml of isopropanole, 5 ml of water and 1 ,6 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid, dissolved at 80 °C, then cooled to 5 °C, stirred at the same temperature for 2 hours, the separated crystals were filtered off, washed twice with 15 ml of a mixture isopropanole-water 95:5, and dried at room temperature to yield 5,9 (65 %) of the title compound. Water content is: 9,5-10 %. NMR, MS and IR spectroscopic characterization NMR Name of the compound: (2-methyl-l-imidazolyl)-9-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl-l,2,3,9- tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate Instrument: Varian INOVA-300 NMR spectrometer (1H: 300 MHz) Solvent: DMSO-d 6 Temperature: 30°C Reference: δτivis = 0.00 ppm Spectrum number: H-13853; C-6848 'HNMR 2.24-2.36 m (IH) [H y -4]; 2.47 s (3H) [l'-Me]; 2.67-2.76 m (IH) [H x -4]; 3.06- 3.14 m (2H) [H 2 -3]; 3.70 s (3H) [1-Me]; 3.87 d (J = 10.8 Hz) (IH) [H y -14]; 3.94 d (J = 10.8 Hz) (IH) [H x -14]; 7.15-7.26 m (2H) [H-10, H-11]; 7.32 s (2H) [3'=CH]; 7.50 dm (IH) [H- 12]; 7.98 dm (IH) [H-9]; 7.00-8.80 vbr (ca. 4H) [chemically exchangeable protons: 2'-NH, 14-OH, H 2 O]. 13 CNMR 11.4 (l'-Me); 19.2 (C-3); 27.5 (C-4); 29.6 (1-Me); 62.7 (C-5); 63.8 (C-14); 110.0 (C-12); 111.4 (C-7); 119.0 (C-3'); 120.2 (C-9); 121.8 (C-10); 122.4 (C-l l); 124.5 (C- 8); 137.3 (C-13); 143.8 (C-l'); 152.0 (C-2); 168.4 (C-16); 189.5 (C-6); 202.9 (C-15). MS Name of the compound: (2-methyl- 1 -imidazolyl)-9-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl- 1 ,2,3,9- tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate Instrument: Finnigan MAT 95SQ Method of ionization: FAB FAB gun: Cs + , 20kV FAB matrix: 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol Spectrum number: FM-5262/+FAB FM-5263/-FAB FM-5264/ daughter ion experiment +FAB experiment: m/z (rel. int.%): 384 (8.4, MH+); 302 (4.8); 229 (15); 83 (100) M=383 m/z Ions] + 302 MH-C 4 H 6 N 2 229 MH-C 4 H 7 N 2 -C 2 O 3 83 C 4 H 7 N 2 The +FAB spectrum verifies that the molecule contains a cation (C + ) and an anion (A " ). FAB daughter ion experiment: According to the FAB daughter ion experiment the ions m/z 83 and 302 observed in the +FAB spectrum are the primary fragments of the protonated molecular ion (m/z 384 [C + A " + HY). -FAB experiment: In the -FAB spectrum the anion (m/z 300, A " ) and the ion [2A " +H + ] formed during the experiment can be observed. IR Name of the compound: (2-methyl- 1 -imidazolyl)-9-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl- 1 ,2,3,9- terahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate Instrument: PERKIN-ELMER 1000 spectrophotometer Phase: KBr pellet Resolution: 4 cm "1 Spectrum number: 7253 The most characteristic IR bands (cm " ): O-H 3306 N + -H 3200-2100 C=O 1691,1626 COO " 1598 Ar 754 Other significant IR bands (cm "1 ): 3115, 2713, 1480, 1455, 1318, 1065, 1029, 915, 514.

Claims: What we claim is: 1. (2-methyl-l-imidazolyl)-9-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl-l,2,3,9-terahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on- 3-glyoxylate of formula (I). 2. Process for the preparing of (2-methyl-l-imidazolyl)-9-methyl-3-hydroxymethyl-l,2,3,9- terahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylate of formula (I), characterised by 9-methyl-3- hydroxymethyl-l,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-on-3-glyoxylic acid lactone is reacted with 2-methylimidazol, followed by isolation of the product of formula (I).

Inventors: CZIBULA LASZLO, DOBAY LASZLO, GAZDAG MARIA, GREINER ISTVAN, MIHALYFI KATALIN, SZANTAY CSABA, TARKANYI GABOR, WERKNE PAPP EVA, ZSOLDOSNE BABJAK MONIKA, CZIBULA, LASZLO, DOBAY, LASZLO, GAZDAG, MARIA, GREINER, ISTVAN, MIHALYFI, KATALIN, SZANTAY, CSABA, TARKANYI, GABOR, WERKNE PAPP, EVA, ZSOLDOSNE BABJAK, MONIKA
Applicants: CZIBULA LASZLO, DOBAY LASZLO, GAZDAG MARIA, GREINER ISTVAN, MIHALYFI KATALIN, RICHTER GEDEON VEGYESZET, SZANTAY CSABA, TARKANYI GABOR, WERKNE PAPP EVA, ZSOLDOSNE BABJAK MONIKA, CZIBULA, LASZLO, DOBAY, LASZLO, GAZDAG, MARIA, GREINER, ISTVAN, MIHALYFI, KATALIN, RICHTER GEDEON VEGYESZETI GYAR RT., SZANTAY, CSABA, TARKANYI, GABOR, WERKNE PAPP, EVA, ZSOLDOSNE BABJAK, MONIKA
Application year: 2001
Main classification: C07D233
IPC codes: A61P43, C07D209, C07D233