Abstract:
A process of preparing a quinolone carboxylic acid or its derivatives having Formula I, Ia, Ib, or IV, as shown herein, comprises using a starting quinolone that already has one or more desired substituents at one or more particular positions on the quinolone ring and preserving the orientation of such substituents throughout the synthesis. The present process comprises fewer steps than prior-art processes. The present process also can include a simple separation of a desired enantiomer of the quinolone carboxylic acid or its derivatives from the enantiomeric mixture. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising fluoroquinolones prepared by the present process can be used effectively against a variety of microbial pathogens.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. patent application having Ser. No. 11/626,397, which was filed on Jan. 24, 2007, and claims the benefit of said prior-filed application. The contents of said prior-filed application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to quinolone carboxylic acids, derivatives thereof, and methods of making and using the same. In particular, the present invention relates to fluoroquinolone carboxylic acids, derivatives thereof, methods of making and using the same. 
     Bacterial pathogens continue to pose a serious threat to public health as indicated by a worldwide resurgence of bacterial diseases. One aspect of this resurgence appears to be the result of prior widespread, and largely effective, therapeutic and prophylactic use of antibiotics, which, unfortunately, over time has also selected for resistant strains of various bacterial pathogens. Of particular concern to the public health has been the emergence and proliferation of bacterial strains that are resistant to multiple antibiotics in the current arsenal of antimicrobial agents. Such multiantibiotic-resistant (“MAR”) bacterial strains include species of Gram-positive bacteria, such as, antibiotic-resistant strains of  Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus fecalis , and  Enterococcus fecium , which, along with antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative strains of  Escherichia coli , constitute the most frequent etiological agents of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) diseases, such as septicemia, endocarditis, and infections of wounds and the urinary tract.  S. aureus  is currently the most frequent cause of nosocomial bacteremia and skin or wound infection.  Streptococcus pneumoniae  causes several serious and life-threatening diseases, including a contagious meningitis, bacteremia, and otitis media. Annual mortality from  S. pneumoniae  infection alone is estimated at between 3-5 million persons globally. More recently, clinical accounts of highly aggressive skin and tissue infections by “flesh-eating” strains of Group-A  streptococcus  bacteria, such as  Streptococcus pyogenes , has heightened the concern and need for new or improved antibacterial agents. 
     Quinolones constitute a group of antibiotics that have been available since the early 1960s and have proved to be valuable antibacterial agents. Quinolone carboxylic acid derivatives having various chemical structures have been synthesized, developed, and marketed. Nalidixic acid (1,4-dihydro-1-ethyl-7-methyl-1,8-naphthyridin-4-one-3-carboxylic acid), the progenitor of the series, was used primarily as a urinary-tract antiseptic. Later development provided agents with broader activity, increased potency against selected pathogens and improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. 
     From a medical utility viewpoint, the quinolones are classified as first-, second-, and third-generation compounds. First-generation compounds like piromidic acid (8-ethyl-5,8-dihydro-5-oxo-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)pyrido(2,3-d)pyrimidine-6-carboxylic acid) and pipemidic acid (8-ethyl-5,8-dihydro-5-oxo-2-(1-piperazinyl)pyrido(2,3-d)pyrimidine-6-carboxylic acid) provided coverage for Gram-negative  Enterobacteriaceae . The second-generation compounds are divided into those with enhanced but predominant Gram-negative activity, against pathogens like  Escherischia coli  and  Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and those with balanced broad-spectrum activity (norfloxacin, pefloxacin, enoxacin, fleroxacin, lomefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, rufloxacin, nadifloxacin). Norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin have, therefore, been used mainly for treatment of diseases including urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, sexually transmitted diseases and the like. Third-generation antibiotics (levofloxacin, pazufloxacin, sparfloxacin, clinafloxacin, sitafloxacin, trovafloxacin, tosufloxacin, temafloxacin, grepafloxacin, balofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin) are those with enhanced activity against Gram-positive cocci (notably clinafloxacin, sitafloxacin, trovafloxacin for  Streptococcus pneumoniae ) and, for essentially all the third-generation quinolones, activity also against Gram-negative  Haemophilus influenzae  and  Legionella pneumophila , and against anaerobes and atypical pathogens. Levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gatifloxacin have, therefore, found use for community-acquired infections such as those of the upper and lower respiratory tract infections (“RTI”) like pneumonia, sinusitis and pharyngitis, and for skin and soft tissue infections (“SSI”) caused by Gram-positive strains of  staphylococci, pneumococci, streptococci , and  enterococci.    
     The improvements seen in most of the third-generation antibiotics in current use are generally attributed to their uniqueness in inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV of the bacterial targets. Three categories of quinolone inhibition have been suggested. Type I quinolones (norfloxacin, enoxacin, fleroxacin, ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, trovafloxacin, grepafloxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin) indicate a preference for topoisomerase IV inhibition. Type II quinolones (nadifloxacin and sparfloxacin) indicate a preference for DNA gyrase inhibition. Type III quinolones to which some of the third-generation quinolones belong (e.g., gatifloxacin, pazufloxacin, moxifloxacin and clinafloxacin) display, however, a dual-targeting property, and equally influence DNA gyrase inhibition and topoisomerase IV inhibition. (M. Takei, et al.,  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy , Vol. 45, 3544-49 (2000)). DNA gyrase is the primary target in bacteria, and thus is explained the weaker activity in Gram-positive bacteria of the topoisomerase IV-targeting second-generation quinolones like norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and levofloxacin. The unusual activity of nadifloxacin described in the literature, especially against Gram-positive  S. aureus , now can be explained by its ability to target DNA gyrase (N. Oizumi, et al.,  J. Infect. Chemother ., Vol. 7, 191-194 (2001)). That some third-generation quinolones are primarily capable of targeting topoisomerase IV in Gram-positive  staphylococci , and DNA gyrase in Gram-positive  S. pneumoniae , explains the advantages provided by the dual-targeting third-generation quinolones like moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin. However, because of continuing threat of new strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may surface in the future, continued effort has been devoted to develop new broad-spectrum antibiotics. 
     A family of fluoroquinolones was recently developed, and some compounds of this family show good antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,900; 5,447,926; 6,685,958; and 6,699,492; all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Because of the promise of their therapeutic value, it is very desirable, in one aspect, to develop improved processes for preparing this family of fluoroquinolones in order to allow for a more widespread availability of these compounds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, the present invention provides an improved process for preparing fluoroquinolones that have Formula I or esters or salts thereof. 
                                
wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, and groups that can be hydrolyzed in living bodies; R 2  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted amino group, and amino groups substituted with one or two lower alkyl groups; R 3  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, unsubstituted lower alkoxy groups, substituted lower alkoxy groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryloxy groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryloxy groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryloxy groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryloxy groups, and groups that can be hydrolyzed in living bodies; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms; Y is selected from the group consisting of CH 2 , O, S, SO, SO 2 , and NR 4 , wherein R 4  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, and cycloalkyl groups; and Z is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and two hydrogen atoms.
 
     In one aspect, a process of preparing fluoroquinolones having Formula I comprises contacting a first compound having Formula II with a second compound having Formula III to produce a fluoroquinolone having Formula I, wherein the first compound and the second compound are represented by 
                                
wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , X, Y, and Z have the meanings as disclosed above; and W is a halogen atom (such as Br, Cl, or F). W and X are independently selected.
 
     In another aspect, a process of preparing fluoroquinolones having Formula IV comprises: (a) contacting a first compound having Formula II with a third compound having Formula V to produce a fourth compound having Formula VI, wherein the fluoroquinolones having Formula IV, the first compound, the third compound, and the fourth compound are represented by 
                                
wherein R 1 , R 3 , W, X, Y, and Z have the meanings as disclosed above and R 5  comprises a protected amino group having a formula of —NR 6 , wherein R 6  comprises a protecting group that is capable of leaving the protected amino group —NR 6 ; and (b) contacting the fourth compound with a catalyst to effect a cleavage of the protecting group from the —NR 6  group, to produce a fluoroquinolone having Formula IV.
 
     In a further aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing fluoroquinolones having Formula I. The process comprises: (a) contacting a compound having Formula XIII with a compound having Formula III to produce a compound having Formula XIV; and (b) halogenating the compound having Formula XIV with a halogenating agent to produce the fluoroquinolones having Formula I; wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, and groups that can be hydrolyzed in living bodies; R 2  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted amino group, and amino groups substituted with one or two lower alkyl groups; R 3  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, unsubstituted lower alkoxy groups, substituted lower alkoxy groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryloxy groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryloxy groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryloxy groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryloxy groups, and groups that can be hydrolyzed in living bodies; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms; Y is selected from the group consisting of CH 2 , O, S, SO, SO 2 , and NR 4 , wherein R 4  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, and cycloalkyl groups; W is a halogen atom (such as Br, Cl, or F); and Z is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and two hydrogen atoms. The compounds having Formulae XIII, III, and XIV are shown below. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     In a further aspect, the present invention provides quinolone carboxylic acids prepared by any process disclosed herein and their derivatives (such as their salts or esters), and methods of using such quinolone carboxylic acids and derivatives. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the term “lower alkyl” or “lower alkyl group” means a C 1 -C 15  (or alternatively, C 1 -C 10 , or C 1 -C 5 , or C 3 -C 5 ) linear- or branched-chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon monovalent group, which may be unsubstituted or substituted. The group may be partially or completely substituted with halogen atoms (F, Cl, Br, or I). Non-limiting examples of lower alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl(isopropyl), n-butyl, n-pentyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl (t-butyl), and the like. It may be abbreviated as “Alk”. 
     As used herein, the term “lower alkoxy” or “lower alkoxy group” means a C 1 -C 15  (or alternatively, C 1 -C 10 , or C 1 -C 5 , or C 3 -C 5 ) linear- or branched-chain saturated aliphatic alkoxy monovalent group, which may be unsubstituted or substituted. The group may be partially or completely substituted with halogen atoms (F, Cl, Br, or I). Non-limiting examples of lower alkoxy groups include methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, 1-methylethoxy(isopropoxy), n-butoxy, n-pentoxy, t-butoxy, and the like. 
     The term “cycloalkyl” or “cycloalkyl group” means a stable aliphatic saturated 3- to 15-membered monocyclic or polycyclic monovalent radical consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms which may comprise one or more fused or bridged ring(s), preferably a 3- to 7-membered monocyclic rings. Other exemplary embodiments of cycloalkyl groups include 7- to 10-membered bicyclic rings. Unless otherwise specified, the cycloalkyl ring may be attached at any carbon atom which results in a stable structure and, if substituted, may be substituted at any suitable carbon atom which results in a stable structure. Exemplary cycloalkyl groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, norbornyl, adamantyl, tetrahydronaphthyl(tetralin), 1-decalinyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octanyl, 1-methylcyclopropyl, 2-methylcyclopentyl, 2-methylcyclooctyl, and the like. 
     As used herein, the term “aryl” or “aryl group” means an aromatic carbocyclic monovalent or divalent radical. In some embodiments, the aryl group has a number of carbon atoms from 5 to 24 and has a single ring (e.g., phenyl or phenylene), multiple condensed rings (e.g., naphthyl or anthranyl), or multiple bridged rings (e.g., biphenyl). In some other embodiments, the aryl group has a number of carbon atoms from 5 to 16 (or alternatively, from 5 to 10, or from 5 to 13, or from 5 to 14, or from 6 to 10, or from 6 to 13, or from 6 to 14). Unless otherwise specified, the aryl ring may be attached at any suitable carbon atom which results in a stable structure and, if substituted, may be substituted at any suitable carbon atom which results in a stable structure. Non-limiting examples of aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, phenanthryl, indanyl, indenyl, biphenyl, and the like. It may be abbreviated as “Ar”. 
     The term “heteroaryl” or “heteroaryl group” means a stable aromatic monocyclic or polycyclic monovalent or divalent radical, which may comprise one or more fused or bridged ring(s). In some embodiments, the heteroaryl group has 5-24 carbon atoms. In still some other embodiments, the heteroaryl group has 5-24 members. In yet some other embodiments, the heteroaryl group has a number of members from 5 to 16 (or alternatively, from 5 to 10, or from 5 to 13, or from 5 to 14, or from 6 to 10, or from 6 to 13, or from 6 to 14), preferably a 5 to 7-membered monocyclic or 7 to 10-membered bicyclic radical. The heteroaryl group can have from one to four heteroatoms in the ring(s) independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, wherein any sulfur heteroatoms may optionally be oxidized and any nitrogen heteroatom may optionally be oxidized or be quaternized. Unless otherwise specified, the heteroaryl ring may be attached at any suitable heteroatom or carbon atom which results in a stable structure and, if substituted, may be substituted at any suitable heteroatom or carbon atom which results in a stable structure. Non-limiting examples of heteroaryls include furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, indolizinyl, azaindolizinyl, indolyl, azaindolyl, diazaindolyl, dihydroindolyl, dihydroazaindoyl, isoindolyl, azaisoindolyl, benzofuranyl, furanopyridinyl, furanopyrimidinyl, furanopyrazinyl, furanopyridazinyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrofuranopyridinyl, dihydrofuranopyrimidinyl, benzothienyl, thienopyridinyl, thienopyrimidinyl, thienopyrazinyl, thienopyridazinyl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrothienopyridinyl, dihydrothienopyrimidinyl, indazolyl, azaindazolyl, diazaindazolyl, benzimidazolyl, imidazopyridinyl, benzthiazolyl, thiazolopyridinyl, thiazolopyrimidinyl, benzoxazolyl, benzoxazinyl, benzoxazinonyl, oxazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyrimidinyl, benzisoxazolyl, purinyl, chromanyl, azachromanyl, quinolizinyl, quinolinyl, dihydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, dihydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, azacinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, azaphthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, azaquinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, azaquinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, dihydronaphthyridinyl, tetrahydronaphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, and phenoxazinyl, and the like. 
     The structures of the compounds disclosed and referred to herein are collected in the following table for easy reference. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 (I) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (Ia) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (Ib) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (II) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (IIa) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (IIb) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (III) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (IV) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (V) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (VI) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (VIa) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (VII) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (VIIa) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (VIII) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (IX) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (X) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XI) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XII) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XIII) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XIIIa) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XIIIb) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XIV) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XV) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XVa) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XVI) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XVIa) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XVII) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XVIII) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 (XVIIIa) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In general, the present invention provides an improved process for preparing fluoroquinolones that have Formula I or esters or salts thereof. 
                                
wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, and groups that can be hydrolyzed in living bodies; R 2  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted amino group, and amino groups substituted with one or two lower alkyl groups; R 3  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, unsubstituted lower alkoxy groups, substituted lower alkoxy groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryloxy groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryloxy groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryloxy groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryloxy groups, and groups that can be hydrolyzed in living bodies; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms; Y is selected from the group consisting of CH 2 , O, S, SO, SO 2 , and NR 4 , wherein R 4  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, and cycloalkyl groups; and Z is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and two hydrogen atoms.
 
     In one aspect, R 1  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 5  (or alternatively, C 1 -C 3 ) substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups, C 3 -C 10  (or alternatively, C 3 -C 5 ) cycloalkyl groups, C 5 -C 14  (or alternatively, C 6 -C 14 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 6 -C 10 ) substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups, C 5 -C 14  (or alternatively, C 6 -C 14 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 6 -C 10 ) substituted and unsubstituted heteroaryl groups, and groups that can be hydrolyzed in living bodies. In one embodiment, R 1  is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 5  (or alternatively, C 1 -C 3 ) substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups. 
     In another aspect, R 2  is selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted amino group and amino groups substituted with one or two C 1 -C 5  (or alternatively, C 1 -C 3 ) alkyl groups. 
     In still another aspect, R 2  is a substituted amino group such as a protected amino group having formula —NR 6 , wherein R 6  comprises a protecting group capable of leaving the protected amino group —NR 6 , for example, upon being attacked by an acid or a base. 
     In still another aspect, R 3  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 5  (or alternatively, C 1 -C 3 ) substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups, C 3 -C 10  (or alternatively, C 3 -C 5 ) cycloalkyl groups, C 1 -C 5  (or alternatively, C 1 -C 3 ) substituted and unsubstituted alkoxy groups, C 5 -C 14  (or alternatively, C 6 -C 14 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 6 -C 10 ) substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups, C 5 -C 14  (or alternatively, C 6 -C 14 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 6 -C 10 ) substituted and unsubstituted heteroaryl groups, and C 5 -C 14  (or alternatively, C 6 -C 14 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 6 -C 10 ) substituted and unsubstituted aryloxy groups. In one embodiment, R 3  is selected from the group consisting of C 3 -C 10  (or alternatively, C 3 -C 5 )cycloalkyl groups. 
     In yet another aspect, X and W are independently selected from the group consisting of Cl, F, and Br. In one embodiment, X is Cl. In another embodiment, X is F. In still another embodiment, both X and W are Cl. In yet another embodiment, both X and W are F. In a further embodiment, X is Cl and W is F. In still another embodiment, X is F and W is Cl. 
     In a further aspect, Y is hydrogen. In still another aspect, Z comprises two hydrogen atoms. 
     In one embodiment, the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid has a Formula Ia. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     In one aspect, the present invention provides an improved process of preparing fluoroquinolones having Formula I. The process comprises contacting a first compound having Formula II with a second compound having Formula III to produce a fluoroquinolone having Formula I, wherein the first compound and the second compound are represented by 
                                
wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , X, Y, W, and Z have the meanings as disclosed above. X and W are independently selected.
 
     In one embodiment, R 2  is selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted amino group and amino groups substituted with one or two C 1 -C 5  (or alternatively, C 1 -C 3 )alkyl groups. 
     In another aspect, the first compound having Formula II, which is used in a process of the present invention as disclosed above, can be prepared according a procedure disclosed in published European Patent Application EP 0230946 A2, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference. For example, the first compound having Formula II is prepared by a process comprising: (a) reacting a compound having Formula X with an equimolar or excess amount of orthoformic acid ester in acetic anhydride (1 to 20-fold volume per total volume of the other reagents) at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 200° C. (preferably, from about 100° C. to about 150° C.) for a time from about 30 minutes to 24 hours to produce a compound having Formula XI; (b) treating the compound having Formula XI with an equimolar or excess amount of an amine having a formula of NH 2 R 3  in a solvent comprising an alcohol (preferably, ethanol or propanol), to convert the compound having Formula XI to a compound having Formula XII; (c) treating the compound having Formula XII with a fluoride salt (such as one selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, and lithium fluoride) in a solvent selected from the group consisting of dioxane, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, and sulfolane a temperature in the range from about 0° C. to about 200° C. (preferably, from about 50° C. to about 150° C.) for a time in the range from about 30 minutes to about 24 hours, to produce the compound having Formula II. The compounds having Formulae X, XI, and XII are shown below. 
                                
wherein R 7  is unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups (or alternatively, C 5 -C 14 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 6 -C 10 ), cycloalkyl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  aryl groups (or alternatively, C 5 -C 14 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 6 -C 10 ), unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups (or alternatively, C 5 -C 14 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 6 -C 10 ), and substituted C 5 -C 24  heteroaryl groups (or alternatively, C 5 -C 14 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 6 -C 10 ); and
 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     In another aspect, the second compound having Formula III can be prepared by cyclization of various amino acids. For examples, such compounds having Formula III can be prepared according to the methods disclosed in D. W. Adamson,  J. Chem. Soc ., p. 39 (1943); R. Pellegata et al.,  Synthesis , p. 614 (1978); and M. Saburi et al.,  Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan , Vol. 60, pp 141-48 (1987). These references are incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, various azepines having general Formula III can be prepared according to the methods disclosed in H. Chong et al.,  J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans ., Vol. 1, 2080-86 (2002); J. Barluenga,  Pure Appl. Chem ., Vol. 74, No. 8, 1317-25 (2002); and T. Naito et al. (available at http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/ectoc/echet96/papers/054/index.htm, Electronic Conference on Heterocyclic Chemistry, Jun. 24 to Jul. 22, 1996, visited on Dec. 22, 2006), using appropriate starting materials. The references by H. Chong et al., and by J. Barluenga are incorporated herein by reference. 
     In one embodiment, Compound III, wherein Y is CH 2 , Z comprises two hydrogen atoms, and R 2  is NH 2 , can be prepared according to the following process. 
     In the first step, D-lysine monohydrochloride reacts with thionyl chloride in the presence of methanol to give methyl-D-lysinate hydrochloride. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     In the second step, methyl-D-lysinate hydrochloride, on cyclization with sodium methoxide in refluxing methanol and quenching with ammonium chloride, yields D-amino caprolactam. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     In the third step, D-amino caprolactam is hydrogenated in the presence of dry THF to yield azepine as described in the following exemplary procedure. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     A reactor is charged with dry tetrahydrofuran (THF) (11.5 volumes). LiAlH 4  (40.01 mol, 2.36 equivalents) is added in portions and stirred at 25-30° C. for about 30 minutes and cooled to 0-5° C. To the cold mixture is added amino caprolactam (16.95 mol, 1.0 equivalent). The mixture is stirred at 0-5° C. for 30 minutes and slowly warmed to 25-30° C. The mixture is then refluxed for 8 hours at 60-70° C. and the reaction is monitor by TLC (thin liquid chromatography). 
     The reaction mixture is then cooled to −10 to −20° C. and water (1 volume) is added slowly with vigorous stirring, followed by the addition of 15% NaOH solution (45 mol, 2.65 equivalents) below −10° C. Stirring is continued and more water (4.01 volumes) is added. After stirring the mixture at 25-30° C. for 1 hour, the solids are filtered out and washed with 0.5 volume of THF. The solids are reslurried and stirred with 2.5 volumes of THF at 25-30° C. for 30 minutes and again filtered. The combined filtrate is distilled completely and azeotroped with THF (0.5 volume) below 50° C. under reduced pressure to remove the volatiles. The syrupy liquid is stirred with acetonitrile (1 volume) at 25-30° C. for 30 minutes, filtered, and washed with 0.5 volume of acetonitrile. The acetonitrile from the filtrate is distilled off completely below 50° C. under reduced pressure to obtain azepine. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a fluoroquinolone having Formula I is prepared as follows. One mole of the compound having Formula II is reacted with about 1-5 moles of the compound having Formula III in a solvent such as acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, or the like, at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 150° C. (or alternatively, from about room temperature to about 100° C.) for a time in the range from about 10 minutes to about 7 days. After the reaction, the precipitate is collected by filtration and washed, for example at room temperature, with a sufficient quantity of a suitable solvent, such as methanol, chloroform, ether, or the like, to obtain a crude product. The crude product is purified, for example, by silica gel column chromatography or by recrystallization to obtain the fluoroquinolone having Formula I. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a fluoroquinolone having Formula IV is prepared as follows. One mole of the compound having Formula II is reacted with about 1-5 moles of the compound having Formula V in a solvent such as acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, or the like, at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 150° C. (or alternatively, from about room temperature to about 100° C.) for a time in the range from about 10 minutes to about 7 days to produce a compound having Formula VI. An amount of an acid or base (depending on whether the cleavage of the protecting group is acid- or base-catalyzable), such as from about 0.1 to about 5 moles per mole of the compound having Formula V, is added to the reaction mixture to allow for the splitting of the protecting group R 6  from the protected amino —NR 5  group. In one embodiment, after this reaction, a base is added to the reaction mixture to convert free HF and HX acids to their salts (resulting pH is about 7), which are washed, for example at room temperature, from the mixture to produce a crude product. The crude product is purified, for example, by silica gel column chromatography or by recrystallization to obtain the fluoroquinolone having Formula IV. 
     In one embodiment, the compound having general Formula V has particular Formula VII. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     This compound can be prepared by the following reaction. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     The following is an example of a process for carrying out the above reaction. 
     A reactor was charged with methanol (10 volumes) and compound VIII, wherein Z is two hydrogen and Y is CH 2  (7.07 mol, 1.0 equivalent) under nitrogen atmosphere at 25-30° C. Compound IX was added to the solution (7.85 mol, 1.11 equivalents). The mixture was stirred at 25-30° C. for 3 hours and analyzed for completion of reaction (by chromatographic monitoring). The solvent was removed under reduced pressure below 50° C., until constant weight was obtained, to yield compound VII. 
     The nitrophenylalkylidene protecting group is disclosed in the above scheme only for illustrative purposes. Other protecting groups can be used in place of the nitrophenylalkylidene group, as can be recognized by people having skill in the art of organic synthesis. For example, another commonly used protecting group for the amine moiety is the t-butoxycarbonyl (“t-Boc”), which may be finally cleaved by an anhydrous acid catalyst, such as HCl to yield the amino group. Still another example of a protecting group for the amine moiety is the fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (“Fmoc”), which can be cleaved by an anhydrous base catalyst, such as ammonia, piperidine, or morpholine. In still another aspect, a process for preparing a fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia comprises: (a) contacting a compound having Formula IIa with a compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 150° C. (or from about 50 to 120° C.) for a time from about 10 minutes to about 7 days (or from about 30 minutes to 36 hours, or from 1 hour to 24 hours), to produce a compound having Formula VIa 
                                
(b) contacting the compound having Formula VIa with an amount of HCl equal to about 0.1 to about 5 moles per mole of the compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 100° C., in a presence of methanol, to produce the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia; and (c) recovering the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia.
 
     Alternatively, Compound IIa may be replaced by Compound IIb having the formula below. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     The following is an example of an embodiment of the process described above. 
     DMF (dimethylformamide) (3.5 volumes) was charged to a reactor. Compound IIa (5.57 mol, 1.0 equivalent) was added to DMF. Then compound VIIa (7.07 mol, 1.27 equivalents) and triethylamine (14.48 mol, 2.6 equivalents) were added to the reactor, and the mixture was heated at 115-120° C. for 8-12 hours. The completion of the reaction was monitor by HPLC. The reaction time was extended, as necessary, if the reaction was not complete. The mixture was then cooled to 25-30° C. and methanol (13.3 volumes) was added over a period of 1-2 hours while stirring at 25-30° C. for 12 hours. The mixture was then further cooled to 5-10° C. and maintained for 1 hour. The precipitate was collected by centrifuge and washed with chilled methanol (5-10° C., 3.5 volumes) and centrifuged for another 30 minutes at room temperature. The solids were dried at 60-65° C. in an oven to obtain compound VIa. 
     Acetonitrile (6.3 volumes) was charged to a glass lined reactor. Compound VIa obtained from the above procedure (4.11 mol, 1.0 equivalent) was charged to acetonitrile. The mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at 25-30° C. The contents were cooled to 10-15° C., and hydrochloric acid (5.58 mol, 1.36 equivalents) was added to the suspension at 10-30° C. over a period of 1 hour. The reaction mixture was then heated to 60-65° C. and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction was monitored by HPLC (for the HPLC assay, the mixture was filtered and the solids were analyzed). The contents were cooled to 25-30° C. and then to 5-10° C. and maintained for 2 hours. The precipitate was collected and washed with acetonitrile (4.2 volumes). The solids were then dried at 60-65° C. in an oven to obtain compound Ia. If the purity of compound Ia is less than 95%, the solids can be reprocessed with acetonitrile (5 volumes) by heating at 60-65° C. for 1-3 hours, cooling to 25-30° C., filtering, washing, and drying. 
     In yet another aspect, the crude product can comprise a mixture of enantiomers of the compound having Formula I or enantiomers of the compound having Formula IV, as the case may be. One of the enantiomers is often more soluble in water than the other. Therefore, another aspect of the present invention comprises the separation of one of the enantiomers of a crude product by washing or dissolving the crude product with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile (e.g., 20-80 volume % water/80-20 volume % acetonitrile, or 30-70 volume % water/70-30 volume % acetonitrile, or 40-70 volume % water/60-30 volume % acetonitrile, or 40-60 volume % water/60-40 volume % acetonitrile, or 50 volume % water/50 volume % acetonitrile), and recovering such an enantiomer from the aqueous phase. 
     Therefore, in another aspect of the present invention, a process of preparing an enantiomer of a fluoroquinolone having Formula I comprises: (a) contacting a first compound having Formula II with a second compound having Formula III to produce a crude enantiomeric mixture comprising enantiomers of the fluoroquinolone having Formula I; (b) recovering the crude enantiomeric mixture; (c) contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture thus recovered with an aqueous medium (such as water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile, e.g., 20-80 volume % water/80-20 volume % acetonitrile, or 30-70 volume % water/70-30 volume % acetonitrile, or 40-70 volume % water/60-30 volume % acetonitrile, or 40-60 volume % water/60-40 volume % acetonitrile, or 50 volume % water/50 volume % acetonitrile) to produce an aqueous solution; and (d) recovering the enantiomer of the fluoroquinolone having Formula I from the aqueous solution. In one embodiment, the step of contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile is carried out at a temperature in a range from about room temperature to about 80° C., or from about room temperature to about 60-70° C., or from about room temperature to about 50-65° C. In another embodiment, the step of contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile is carried out at about room temperature. In still another embodiment, the present process can produce the enantiomer of the fluoroquinolone having Formula I at a purity of at least 95 mol % (or alternatively, at least 97 mol %, or 98 mol %, or 99 mol %, or 99.9 mol %, or 99.99 mol %). 
     In still another aspect, a process of preparing an enantiomer of a fluoroquinolone having Formula IV comprises: (a) contacting a first compound having Formula II with a third compound having Formula V to produce a fourth compound having Formula VI; (b) contacting the fourth compound with a catalyst capable of assisting a cleavage of a protecting group from the R 5  group, to produce a crude enantiomeric mixture of fluoroquinolones having Formula IV; (c) recovering the crude enantiomeric mixture; (c) contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture thus recovered with an aqueous medium (such as water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile) to produce an aqueous solution; and (d) recovering the enantiomer of the fluoroquinolone having Formula IV from the aqueous solution; wherein X has the meaning disclosed above. In one embodiment, the step of contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture with water is carried out at a temperature in a range from about room temperature to about 80° C., or from about room temperature to about 60-70° C., or from about room temperature to about 50-65° C., or from about room temperature to about 60° C. In another embodiment, the step of contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile is carried out at about room temperature. In still another embodiment, the present process can produce the enantiomer of the fluoroquinolone having Formula I at a purity of at least 95 mol % (or alternatively, at least 97 mol %, or 98 mol %, or 99 mol %, or 99.9 mol %, or 99.99 mol %). 
     In a further aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing fluoroquinolones having Formula I. The process comprises: (a) contacting a compound having Formula XIII with a compound having Formula III to produce a compound having Formula XIV; and (b) halogenating (for example, chlorinating or brominating) the compound having Formula XIV with a halogenating (for example, chlorinating or brominating) agent to produce the fluoroquinolones having Formula I; wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 ) aryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 ) aryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 5 -C 7 , or C 7 -C 10 )heteroaryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 5 -C 7 , or C 7 -C 10 )heteroaryl groups, and groups that can be hydrolyzed in living bodies; R 2  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted amino group, amino groups substituted with one or two lower alkyl groups, and R 5 , wherein R 5  comprises a protected amino group having a formula of —NR 6 , wherein R 6  comprises a protecting group that is capable of leaving the protected amino group —NR 6 ; R 3  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, unsubstituted lower alkoxy groups, substituted lower alkoxy groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 )aryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 )aryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 5 -C 7 , or C 7 -C 10 ) heteroaryl groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 5 -C 7 , or C 7 -C 10 )heteroaryl groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 )aryloxy groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 )aryloxy groups, unsubstituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 5 -C 7 , or C 7 -C 10 )heteroaryloxy groups, substituted C 5 -C 24  (or, alternatively, C 5 -C 16 , or C 5 -C 14 , C 5 -C 13 , or C 5 -C 10 , or C 5 -C 7 , or C 7 -C 10 )heteroaryloxy groups, and groups that can be hydrolyzed in living bodies; W and X are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms; Y is selected from the group consisting of CH 2 , O, S, SO, SO 2 , and NR 4 , wherein R 4  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted lower alkyl groups, substituted lower alkyl groups, and cycloalkyl groups; and Z is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and two hydrogen atoms. In one embodiment, the present process can produce the enantiomer of the fluoroquinolone having Formula I at a purity of at least 95 mol % (or alternatively, at least 97 mol %, or 98 mol %, or 99 mol %, or 99.9 mol %, or 99.99 mol %). The compounds having Formulae XIII, III, and XIV are shown below. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     Alternatively, embodiments of Compound XIII may be Compound XIIIa or XIIIb having the formulae below. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     In one embodiment, R 2  is R 5 , which comprises a protected amino group having a formula of —NR 6 , wherein R 6  comprises a protecting group that is capable of leaving the protected amino group —NR 6 , for example, upon being attacked by an acid or a base; and the process further comprises the steps of (c) recovering Compound I from a reaction mixture of step (b) by contacting said reaction mixture with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile (such as a mixture comprising 20-80% (or 30-70%, or 40-60%) (by volume) acetonitrile). 
     In another embodiment, the step (b) of halogenating is carried out in the presence of a solvent such as DMF at a temperature in the range of 10-70° C. (or, alternatively, 40-60° C., or 50-60° C.). 
     The following is an example of an embodiment of the process described above. 
     DMF (dimethylformamide) (3.5 volumes) is charged to a reactor. Compound XIII (5.57 mol, 1.0 equivalent) is added to DMF. Then Compound III (7.07 mol, 1.27 equivalents) and triethylamine (14.48 mol, 2.6 equivalents) are added to the reactor, and the mixture is heated at 115-120° C. for 8-12 hours. The completion of the reaction is monitored by HPLC. The reaction time was extended, as necessary, if the reaction is not complete. The mixture is then cooled to 25-30° C. and methanol (13.3 volumes) is added over a period of 1-2 hours while stirring at 25-30° C. for 12 hours. The mixture is then further cooled to 5-10° C. and maintained for 1 hour. The precipitate is collected by centrifuge and washed with chilled methanol (5-10° C., 3.5 volumes) and centrifuged for another 30 minutes at room temperature. The solids are dried at 60-65° C. in an oven to obtain crude Compound XIV. 
     Acetonitrile (6.3 volumes) is charged to a glass lined reactor. Crude Compound XIV obtained from the above procedure (4.11 mol, 1.0 equivalent) is charged to acetonitrile. The mixture is stirred for 10 minutes at 25-30° C. The precipitate is collected and washed with acetonitrile (4.2 volumes). The solids are then dried at 60-65° C. in an oven to obtain Compound XIV. If the purity of Compound XIV is less than 95%, the solids can be reprocessed with acetonitrile (5 volumes) by heating at 60-65° C. for 1-3 hours, cooling to 25-30° C., filtering, washing, and drying. 
     Acetic acid (3.2 volumes) is charged to a glass reactor. Compound XIV (4.11 mol, 1.0 equivalent) is added to acetic acid and stirred at 25-30° C. for 10 minutes. The contents are then cooled to 5-10° C. Sulfuryl chloride (SO 2 Cl 2 ) (8.43 mol, 2.05 equivalents) is added slowly to the suspension at 5-10° C. over a period of 1-2 hours and then stirred at 15-30° C. for 3 hours. The completion of the reaction is monitored by HPLC. 
     The suspension is cooled at 10-20° C. and DMF (8.0 volumes) is added, stirred at 10-20° C. for 12 hours and heated at 50-55° C. for 1 hour. The precipitate is centrifuged and washed with acetonitrile (1.0 volume). The wet solids are treated with DMF (8.0 volumes) and heated to 55-60° C. for 1 hour. The suspension is centrifuged, washed with DMF (1.0 volume) and acetonitrile (1.0 volume) followed by chilled water (1.0 volume). The solids are dried at 50-60° C. to yield Compound I. 
     In one embodiment, a process for preparing a fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia comprises: (a) contacting a compound having Formula XV with a compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 150° C. (or alternatively, from about room temperature to about 120° C., or from about 50° C. to about 120° C.) for a time from about 10 minutes to about 7 days (or from about 30 minutes to 36 hours, or from 1 hour to 24 hours), to produce a compound having Formula XVI; (b) chlorinating the compound having Formula XVI with a chlorinating agent to produce the fluoroquinolones having Formula XVII; (c) contacting the compound having Formula XVII with an amount of HCl equal to about 0.1 to about 5 moles per mole of the compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 100° C., in a presence of a solvent such as acetonitrile or methanol, to produce the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia; and (d) recovering the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia. The compounds having Formulae XV, VIIa, XVI, and XVII are shown below. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     In one embodiment, the chlorinating agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfuryl chloride, chlorine, N-chlorosuccinic acid imide, and the like, in a suitable solvent, such as chloroform, dichloromethane, acetic acid, methanol, ethanol, and the like. The step of chlorinating can be carried out at a temperature in the range from about 0 to about 100° C. (when the step of chlorinating is carried out in a liquid medium, it may be preferred to employ a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent) for about 10 minutes to about 48 hours. 
     Alternatively, Compound XV may be replaced by Compound XVa having a formula shown below. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     The following is an example of an embodiment of the process described above. 
     DMF (dimethylformamide) (3.5 volumes) is charged to a reactor. Compound XV (5.57 mol, 1.0 equivalent) was added to DMF. Then compound VIIa (7.07 mol, 1.27 equivalents) and triethylamine (14.48 mol, 2.6 equivalents) are added to the reactor, and the mixture is heated at 115-120° C. for 8-12 hours. The completion of the reaction is monitored by HPLC. The reaction time is extended, as necessary, if the reaction is not complete. The mixture is then cooled to 25-30° C. and methanol (13.3 volumes) is added over a period of 1-2 hours while stirring at 25-30° C. for 12 hours. The mixture is then further cooled to 5-10° C. and maintained for 1 hour. The precipitate is collected by centrifuge and washed with chilled methanol (5-10° C., 3.5 volumes) and centrifuged for another 30 minutes at room temperature. The solids are dried at 60-65° C. in an oven to obtain crude Compound XVI. 
     Acetonitrile (6.3 volumes) is charged to a glass lined reactor. Crude Compound XVI obtained from the above procedure (4.11 mol, 1.0 equivalent) is charged to acetonitrile. The mixture is stirred for 10 minutes at 25-30° C. The mixture is then heated to 60-65° C. and stirred for 2 hours. The contents are cooled to 25-30° C. and then to 5-10° C. and maintained for 2 hours. The precipitate is collected and washed with acetonitrile (4.2 volumes). The solids are then dried at 60-65° C. in an oven to obtain Compound XVI. If the purity of Compound XVI is less than 95%, the solids can be reprocessed with acetonitrile (5 volumes) by heating at 60-65° C. for 1-3 hours, cooling to 25-30° C., filtering, washing, and drying. 
     Acetic acid (3.2 volumes) is charged to a glass reactor. Compound XVI (4.11 mol, 1.0 equivalent) is added to acetic acid and stirred at 25-30° C. for 10 minutes. The contents are then cooled to 5-10° C. Sulfuryl chloride (SO 2 Cl 2 ) (8.43 mol, 2.05 equivalents) is added slowly to the suspension at 5-10° C. over a period of 1-2 hours and then stirred at 15-30° C. for 3 hours. The completion of the reaction is monitored by HPLC. 
     The suspension is cooled at 10-20° C. and DMF (8.0 volumes) is then added, stirred at 10-20° C. for 12 hours and heated at 50-55° C. for 1 hour. The precipitate is centrifuged and washed with acetonitrile (1.0 volume). The wet solids are treated with DMF (8.0 volumes) and heated to 55-60° C. for 1 hour. The suspension is centrifuged, washed with DMF (1.0 volume) and acetonitrile (1.0 volume) followed by chilled water (1.0 volume). The solids are then dried at 50-60° C. in an oven to obtain Compound XVII. 
     Acetonitrile (6.3 volumes) is charged to a glass lined reactor. Compound XVII obtained from the above procedure (4.11 mol, 1.0 equivalent) is charged to acetonitrile. The mixture is stirred for 10 minutes at 25-30° C. The contents are cooled to 10-15° C., and hydrochloric acid (5.58 mol, 1.36 equivalents) is added to the suspension at 10-30° C. over a period of 1 hour. The reaction mixture is then heated to 60-65° C. and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction is monitored by HPLC (for the HPLC assay, the mixture was filtered and the solids were analyzed). The contents are cooled to 25-30° C. and then to 5-10° C. and maintained for 2 hours. The precipitate is collected and washed with acetonitrile (4.2 volumes). The solids are then dried at 60-65° C. in an oven to obtain Compound Ia. If the purity of Compound Ia is less than 95 mol %, the solids can be reprocessed with acetonitrile (5 volumes) by heating at 60-65° C. for 1-3 hours, cooling to 25-30° C., filtering, washing, and drying. Multiple reprocessing with acetonitrile can further increase the purity of Compound Ia to at least 97 mol % (or alternatively, 98 mol %, or 99 mol %, or 99.5 mol %, or 99.9 mol %, or 99.99 mol %). 
     In another embodiment, a process for preparing a fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia comprises: (a) contacting a compound having Formula XV with a compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 150° C. (or alternatively, from about room temperature to about 120° C., or from about 50° C. to about 120° C.) for a time from about 10 minutes to about 7 days (or from about 30 minutes to 36 hours, or from 1 hour to 24 hours), to produce a compound having Formula XVI; (b) contacting the compound having Formula XVI with an amount of HCl equal to about 0.1 to about 5 moles per mole of the compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 100° C., in a presence of a solvent such as acetonitrile or methanol, to produce a compound having Formula XVIII; (c) chlorinating the compound having Formula XVIII with a chlorinating agent to produce a crude fluoroquinolone having Formula Ia; and (d) recovering the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia. The compounds having Formulae XV, VIIa, and XVI are shown above. Compound XVIII is shown below. 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
      
     
     Alternatively, Compound XV may be replaced by Compound XVa having a formula shown hereinabove. 
     The following is an example of an embodiment of the process described above. 
     DMF (dimethylformamide) (3.5 volumes) is charged to a reactor. Compound XV (5.57 mol, 1.0 equivalent) was added to DMF. Then compound VIIa (7.07 mol, 1.27 equivalents) and triethylamine (14.48 mol, 2.6 equivalents) are added to the reactor, and the mixture is heated at 115-120° C. for 8-12 hours. The completion of the reaction is monitored by HPLC. The reaction time is extended, as necessary, if the reaction is not complete. The mixture is then cooled to 25-30° C. and methanol (13.3 volumes) is added over a period of 1-2 hours while stirring at 25-30° C. for 12 hours. The mixture is then further cooled to 5-10° C. and maintained for 1 hour. The precipitate is collected by centrifuge and washed with chilled methanol (5-10° C., 3.5 volumes) and centrifuged for another 30 minutes at room temperature. The solids are dried at 60-65° C. in an oven to obtain crude Compound XVI. 
     Acetonitrile (6.3 volumes) is charged to a glass lined reactor. Crude Compound XVI obtained from the above procedure (4.11 mol, 1.0 equivalent) is charged to acetonitrile and stirred for 10 minutes at 25-30° C. The contents are cooled to 10-15° C. and hydrochloric acid (5.58 mol, 1.36 equivalents) is added to the suspension at 10-30° C. over a period of 1 hour. The reaction mixture is then heated to 60-65° C. and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction is monitored by HPLC. 
     The contents are cooled to 25-30° C. and then to 5-10° C. and maintained for 2 hours. The precipitate is collected and washed with acetonitrile (4.2 volumes). The solids are then dried at 60-65° C. in an oven to obtain Compound XVIII. If the purity of Compound XVIII is less than 95%, the solids can be reprocessed with acetonitrile (5 volumes) by heating at 60-65° C. for 1-3 hours, cooling to 25-30° C., filtering, washing, and drying. 
     Acetic acid (3.2 volumes) is charged to a glass reactor. Compound XVI (4.11 mol, 1.0 equivalent) is added to acetic acid and stirred at 25-30° C. for 10 minutes. The contents are then cooled to 5-10° C. Sulfuryl chloride (SO 2 Cl 2 ) (8.43 mol, 2.05 equivalents) is added slowly to the suspension at 5-10° C. over a period of 1-2 hours and then stirred at 15-30° C. for 3 hours. The completion of the reaction is monitored by HPLC. 
     The suspension is cooled at 10-20° C. and DMF (8.0 volumes) is then added, stirred at 10-20° C. for 12 hours and heated at 50-55° C. for 1 hour. The precipitate is centrifuged and washed with acetonitrile (1.0 volume). The wet solids are treated with DMF (8.0 volumes) and heated to 55-60° C. for 1 hour. The suspension is centrifuged, washed with DMF (1.0 volume) and acetonitrile (1.0 volume) followed by chilled water (1.0 volume). The solids are then dried at 50-60° C. in an oven to obtain Compound Ia. 
     Preparation of HCl Salt of Compound I or Ia. 
     In a glass reactor, Compound I or Ia (1.74 mol, 1.0 equivalent) is suspended in purified water (7.6 volume) and stirred at 25-30° C. for about 30 minutes. The suspension is cooled to 10-20° C. and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (2.0 M, 3.48 mol, 2.0 equivalents) is added below 20° C. To acidify the solution, aqueous hydrochloric acid (2.0 M, 5.58 mol, 2.5 equivalents) is added at 10-20° C. If the pH does not reach a value of 1-1.5, additional aqueous hydrochloric acid is added until the desired pH is achieved. The reaction mixture is stirred at 10-30° C. for 1 hour. The precipitate is filtered, washed with chilled purified water (4.6 volumes) and dried at 50-60° C. to obtain crude HCl salt of Compound I or Ia. Alternatively, an acid other than HCl may be used to obtain the corresponding salt of Compound I or Ia. 
     The crude HCl salt of Compound I or Ia is suspended in 3:2 (by volume) acetonitrile:water mixture (15 volume). The suspension is heated and stirred at 40-45° C. for 1 hour. The clear solution obtained is cooled to 0-5° C. for 30 minutes, and stirred at 25-30° C. for 12 hours. The precipitated solid is removed by filtration. The filtrate is concentrated to remove 50-60% of the filtrate under vacuum at 50-60° C. the slurry is cooled to 25-30° C. The solid are filtered, washed with acetonitrile (1 volume) and chilled water (1 volume), and dried in a vacuum oven at 60-65° C. to obtain crude HCl salt of Compound I or Ia. 
     If the chiral HPLC assay for the intermediate shows more than 0.5% of the other enantiomer, the crude HCl salt of Compound I or Ia can be reprocessed with 3:2 acetonitrile:water (15 volumes) as described above. 
     In one embodiment, the composition of the acetonitrile:water mixture may comprise 20-80 volume % acetonitrile:80-20 volume % water. In another embodiment, the composition of the acetonitrile:water mixture may comprise 30-70 volume % acetonitrile:70-30 volume % water (or alternatively, 40-60 volume % acetonitrile:60-40 volume % water, or 40-70 volume % acetonitrile:60-30 volume % water, or 40-65 volume % acetonitrile:60-35 volume % water, or 45-65 volume % acetonitrile:55-35 volume % water, or 45-55 volume % acetonitrile:5545 volume % water, or 50 volume % acetonitrile:50 volume % water). 
     In still another aspect, a process for preparing a fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula lb comprises: (a) contacting a compound having Formula IIb with a compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 150° C. for a time from about 10 minutes to about 7 days, to produce a compound having Formula VIa 
                                
wherein X is a halogen atom; (b) contacting the compound having Formula VIa with an amount of HCl equal to about 0.1 to about 5 moles per mole of the compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 100° C., in a presence of methanol or acetonitrile, to produce a crude fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia; (c) washing said crude fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid successively with DMF, acetonitrile, and water; or successively with DMF, and then with a mixture of acetonitrile/water (e.g., 60%/40% acetonitrile/water by volume); and (d) recovering the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ia having a desired purity.
 
     In still another aspect, a process for preparing a fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ib comprises: (a) contacting a compound having Formula XVa with a compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 150° C. for a time from about 10 minutes to about 7 days, to produce a compound having Formula XVI 
                                
wherein X is a halogen (such as chlorine, bromine, fluorine, or iodine),
 
                                
(b) contacting the compound having Formula XVI with an amount of HCl equal to about 0.1 to about 5 moles per mole of the compound having Formula VIIa at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 100° C., in a presence of methanol or acetonitrile, to produce a compound having Formula XVIII;
 
                                
(c) contacting the compound having Formula XVIII with a halogenating agent, such as, in one embodiment, sulfuryl halide (such as, sulfuryl chloride, sulfuryl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride, or sulfuryl iodide) to produce a crude fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ib; (d) washing said crude fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid successively with DMF, acetonitrile, and water; or successively with DMF, and then with a mixture of acetonitrile/water; and (e) recovering the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula Ib having a desired purity.
 
     In still another aspect, a process for preparing a fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula I comprises: (a) contacting a compound having Formula XIII with a compound having Formula V at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 150° C. for a time from about 10 minutes to about 7 days, to produce a compound having Formula XVIa 
                                
(b) contacting the compound having Formula XVIa with an amount of HCl equal to about 0.1 to about 5 moles per mole of the compound having Formula V at a temperature in the range from about room temperature to about 100° C., in a presence of methanol or acetonitrile, to produce a compound having Formula XVIIIa;
 
                                
(c) contacting the compound having Formula XVIIIa with a halogenating agent, such as, in one embodiment, sulfuryl halide (such as, sulfuryl chloride, sulfuryl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride, or sulfuryl iodide) to produce a crude fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula I; (d) washing said crude fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid successively with DMF, acetonitrile, and water; or successively with DMF, and then with a mixture of acetonitrile/water; and (e) recovering the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid having Formula I having a desired purity such as at least 95 mol % (or at least 97 mol 5, or at least 98 mol %, or at least 99 mol %, or at least 99.9 mol %, or at least 99.99 mol %).
 
     In still another aspect, the mixture of acetonitrile/water used in step (d) of the foregoing process comprises 30-70% (by volume of the mixture) acetonitrile. Alternatively, the mixture of acetonitrile/water used in step (d) of the foregoing process comprises 40-60% (by volume of the mixture) acetonitrile (or, alternatively, 35-65% (by volume of the mixture), or 45-55% (by volume of the mixture) acetonitrile, or 50% (by volume of the mixture) acetonitrile). 
     In one embodiment, said step of recovering (step (e)) comprises further washing the crude fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid with hot water (at temperature of about 90-95° C.) to recover the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid. 
     In yet another aspect, the crude product can comprise a mixture of enantiomers of the compound having Formula I or enantiomers of the compound having Formula IV, as the case may be. One of the enantiomers is often more soluble in water than the other. Therefore, another aspect of the present invention comprises the separation of one of the enantiomers of a crude product by washing or dissolving the crude product with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile, and recovering such an enantiomer from the aqueous phase. 
     Therefore, in another aspect of the present invention, a process of preparing an enantiomer of a fluoroquinolone having Formula I comprises: (a) contacting a first compound having Formula II with a second compound having Formula III to produce a crude enantiomeric mixture comprising fluoroquinolone enantiomers including the fluoroquinolone having Formula I; (b) recovering the crude enantiomeric mixture; (c) contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture thus recovered with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile to produce an aqueous solution; and (d) recovering the enantiomer of the fluoroquinolone having Formula I from the aqueous solution. In one embodiment, the step of contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture with water is carried out at a temperature in a range from about room temperature to about 80° C., or from about room temperature to about 70° C., or from about 40° C. to about 70° C. In another embodiment, the step of contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile is carried out at about 60-65° C. 
     In still another aspect, a process of preparing an enantiomer of a fluoroquinolone having Formula IV comprises: (a) contacting a first compound having Formula II with a third compound having Formula V to produce a fourth compound having Formula VI; (b) contacting the fourth compound with a catalyst capable of assisting a cleavage of a protecting group from the R 5  group, to produce a crude enantiomeric mixture including the fluoroquinolone having Formula IV; (c) recovering the crude enantiomeric mixture; (c) contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture thus recovered with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile to produce an aqueous solution; and (d) recovering the enantiomer of the fluoroquinolone having Formula IV from the aqueous solution; wherein X has the meaning disclosed above. In one embodiment, the step of contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile is carried out at a temperature in a range from about room temperature to about 80° C., or from about room temperature to about 70° C., or from about 40° C. to about 70° C. In another embodiment, the step of contacting the crude enantiomeric mixture with water or a mixture of water and acetonitrile is carried out at about 60-65° C. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a fluoroquinolone having Formula I, Ia, or IV prepared by any appropriate process disclosed herein. 
     In some embodiments, a process of the present invention has advantages over the process disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,900 and 5,447,926 in that such a process is simpler and does not require the last step of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,900 and 5,447,926 for the attachment of a halogen atom to the position 8 on the compounds having Formulae I, Ia, and IV. This step requires the use of an excess amount of a halogenating agent such as sulfuryl chloride, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, N-chlorosuccinic acid imide, N-bromosuccinic acid imide, or the like. The use of such halogenating agents, especially in the gas phase, requires installation of precautionary measures in the manufacturing process, which would increase the complexity and cost of the manufacture. 
     Alternatively, in some other embodiment, a process of the present invention has advantages over the process disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,900 and 5,447,926 because a process of the present invention effects a reaction on the material having Formula XIII, which is more readily available and more economically favorably than another material, identified as Compound 2 in these patents. 
     Compounds of this family of fluoroquinolones can be used effectively against the survival of microbial pathogens. For example, the compounds having Formula I, Ia, or IV are potent antimicrobial agents and are found to be effective against the survival of Gram-positive bacteria, such as  Bacillus subtilus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Sarcina lutea, Streptococcus faecalis , and  Micrococcus lysodeikticus ; Gram-negative bacteria, such as  Escherichia coli, Samonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Kleisiela pneumonias, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus rettgeri , and  Serratia marcesscens ; and a metricillin-resistant strain of  Streptococcus aureus . See; e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,900 and 5,447,926; which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     A fluoroquinolone compound prepared by any method disclosed herein can be formulated into an antimicrobial composition for topical, oral, systemic, ocular, or intraocular administration. Such a composition comprises a fluoroquinolone compound and an excipient appropriate for the administration, as can be determined by a person having skill in the art of pharmaceutical formulation for the applications disclosed above. For example, various excipients known in the art can be used to formulate a solution, suspension, dispersion, ointment, gel, capsule, or tablet. A fluoroquinolone compound prepared by any method disclosed herein is particularly suitable for a treatment, reduction, amelioration, or prevention of infections of the eye, ear, nose, throat, or respiratory system caused by bacteria, including, but not being limited to, those bacteria disclosed above. In one embodiment, such a fluoroquinolone is formulated into an ophthalmic solution, ointment, suspension, dispersion, or gel. 
     While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many equivalents, modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.