Abstract:
Methods for the preparation of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of 5-methylpyrazine-carboxylic acid-4-oxide by using the oxidizing agent OXONE® for the N-oxidation of C 1-4  methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid esters. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts are then formed by the saponification of the esters followed by alcohol precipitation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a process for the manufacture of 5-methylpyrazine-2-carboxylic acid-4-oxide, its esters and conversion of the esters to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     5-Methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid has been produced by several methods. Examplary methods include the following: 
     Patent Nos. JP62263164 and EP201934 disclose the preparation of 5-methylpyrazine-carboxylic acid using hydrogen peroxide and a tungstate or molybdate catalyst. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,245 discloses a process for the preparation of 5-methylpyrazine-carboxylic acid by the use of peracid oxidation of 5-methylpyrazinecarboxamide followed by basic hydrolysis of the amide oxide and pH adjustment. 
     The present invention is also partly directed to the preparation of 5-methylpyrazine-carboxylic acid-4-oxides that exhibit hypoglycemic and hypolipaemic activity. These products are used as such but can result in severe irritation of the gastrointestinal lining because of their low pH. The use of inorganic salts of these acids should alleviate this physiological side effect. 
     The present invention is also directed to the transformation of the 5-methylpyrazine-carboxylic acid-2-oxides to their inorganic salts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, ester (C 1-4 ) and salts of 5-methylpyrazine-carboxylic acid are prepared as shown hereunder 
                                
wherein:
 
     R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and 
     M is an inorganic salt of Na, K, Mg and Ca. 
     The C 1-4  esters of 5-methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid are prepared by heating the acid with the appropriate C 1-4  alcohol in the presence of a mineral acid such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, or acidic cation ion exchange resins (20–40 wt %). The ester is oxidized in a biphasic system consisting of a halogenated solvent and a 20–25% aqueous solution of peroxymonosulfate present as a component of a triple salt having the formula 2KHSO 5 .KHSO 4 .K 2 SO 4 . Saponification of the isolated oxidation product results in formation of the desired salt, which is then precipitated with an alcohol. Alternatively, sodium or potassium salts are prepared by addition of sodium or potassium trimethylsilanolate to a solution of the oxidized ester in ether solvents such as diethyl ether or THF. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved scalable process for the manufacture of 5-methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid-4-oxide that exhibit hypoglycaemic and hypolipaemic activity. This product is used as such but can result in severe irritation of the gastrointestinal lining because of its low pH.; The use of inorganic (Na, K, Mg and Ca) salts of the acid should alleviate this physiological difficulty. This invention relates to a novel way of accomplishing the transformation to these pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Preparation of the N-oxide uses a safe, and easily handled oxidizing agent that allows the reaction to be carried out in the absence of metal peroxides or peracids at lower temperatures and in good yield. 
     In the process of the present invention the following reagents are used: acidic cation ion exchange resin as the catalyst, and peroxymonosulfate, KHSO 5 , present as a component of a triple salt having the formula 2KHSO 5 .KHSO 4 .K 2 SO 4  an oxidizing agent which is a mixture of peroxymonosulfuric acid, monopotassium salt, dipotassium sulfate and potassium hydrogen sulfate which is an inexpensive, versatile, and relatively stable oxidizing agent that has been used to oxidize a number of functional groups including alkenes, arenes, amines, imines, and sulfides. OXONE® is also used for the preparation of dioxiranes. It has been used for the oxidation of several nucleic acids as well as nucleotides. It serves as a stoichiometric reagent under a variety of conditions (homogeneous and biphasic systems). 
     OXONE® is sold by Dupont and is used in denture cleansers, swimming pool/spa oxidizers, disinfectants, laundry bleaches and the like. Its active ingredient is potassium peroxymonosulfate, KHSO 5 , which is present as a component of a triple salt having the formula 2KHSO 5 .KHSO 4 .K 2 SO 4 . 
     In accordance with the invention and unlike other methods described in prior art, the reaction is carried out in a biphasic system that consists of a halogenated solvent typically, but not limited to, methylene chloride and a 20–25% aqueous solution of peroxymonosulfate KHSO 5  present as a component of a triple salt having the formula 2KHSO 5 .KHSO 4 .K 2 SO 4 . The reaction mixture is vigorously stirred at room temperature, or preferably at reflux (40° C.), until the reaction is complete (analyzed by GC or GC/MS). The layers are separated and the aqueous layer is extracted with solvent. The combined extracts are dried with a drying agent, typically sodium or magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The isolated ester oxide is dried under vacuum. The dried material is then saponified, typically with sodium hydroxide, at 50° C. The product is precipitated by the addition of a pharmaceutically acceptable alcohol such as ethanol, isopropanol, or an appropriate specifically denatured alcohol (SDA). The salt is collected by filtration, washed with alcohol and dried under vacuum. The following further illustrates the process that is described in detail in conjunction with the non-limiting examples. 
     EXAMPLE 1  
     The reaction is carried out, under nitrogen, in a 1 L×4 neck flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, water condenser (with gas inlet), and a thermocouple. The reactor is charged with 5-methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid (100 g), acidic cation ion exchange resin (20 g), and methanol (300 g). The mixture is stirred at reflux for about 20 h. After the reaction is complete (analyze with GC or GC/MS), the resin is removed by pressure filtration. The resin is rinsed with methanol. About 75% of the solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the resulting suspension is allowed to stand at room temperature overnight, and then in an ice bath for 3 h. The solid is collected by filtration and washed with ice-cold methanol (2×80 g). Drying under vacuum (25 inches of Hg) yielded 102.4 g (93%) of 5-methyl-2-pyrazonecarboxylic acid, methyl ester that is suitable for use as is. 
     EXAMPLE 2  
     The reaction is carried out, under nitrogen, in a 1 L×4 neck flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, water condenser (with gas inlet), and a thermocouple. The reactor is charged with 5-methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid (100 g), ethanol ,(300 g) and sulfuric acid (2 g). The contents are refluxed for eight hours at 78° C. The reaction mixture is cooled to ambient temperature and sodium bicarbonate (4 g) is added. About 75% of the solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the resulting suspension is allowed to stand overnight. The solids are filtered and washed with cold methanol (2×80 g). Drying under oven (25 inches of Hg) yielded 101.25 g (84%) of 5-methyl-2-pyrazonecarboxylic acid, ethyl ester. 
     EXAMPLE 3  
     The reaction is carried out, under nitrogen, in a 1 L×4 neck flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, water condenser (with gas inlet), and a thermocouple. The reactor is charged with 5-methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid, methyl ester (20.00 g), and methylene chloride (90 g). A solution of peroxymonosulfate, KHSO 5 , present as a component of a triple salt having the formula 2KHSO 5 .KHSO 4 .K 2 SO 4  (84.67 g) in water (335 g) is added, and the mixture is vigorously stirred for 68 h at room temperature. The layers are separated, the organic layer is dried over magnesium sulfate, and gravity filtered. The aqueous layer is extracted with methylene chloride (3×135 g). Each extract is poured through the filter containing the magnesium sulfate from above. The extracts are combined and the solvent is removed by distillation at 55° C. Residual solvent is removed under vacuum (25 inches of Hg at 55°° C.) yielding 15.39 g (70%) of the n-oxide as an off-white solid). 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     The reaction is carried out, under nitrogen, in a 1 L×4 neck flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, water condenser (with gas inlet), and a thermocouple. The reactor is charged with 5-methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid, propyl ester (21.69 g), and methylene chloride (80 g). A solution of peroxymonosulfate, KHSO 5 , present as a component of a triple salt having the formula 2KHSO 5 .KHSO 4 .K 2 SO 4  (77.51 g) in water (305 g) is added, and the mixture is vigorously stirred for 46 h at 40° C. Analysis by GC indicated that the reaction is complete. The reaction mixture is transferred to a separatory funnel and the reactor is rinsed with methylene chloride (65 g). The solvent rinse is added to the separatory funnel. The layers are separated, and the organic, layer is dried over magnesium sulfate followed by pressure filtration. The aqueous layer is extracted with methylene chloride (3×120 g). Each extract is passed through the filter containing the magnesium sulfate from above. The extracts are combined and the solvent is removed by distillation at 55° C. Residual solvent is removed under vacuum (25 inches of Hg at 55° C.) yielding 17.94 g (75%) of the N-oxide as an off-white solid. 
     EXAMPLE 5 
     The reaction is carried out, under-nitrogen, in a 500 mL×4 neck flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer water condenser (with gas inlet), and a thermocouple. The reactor is charged with 5-methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid-4-oxide, methyl ester 15.00 g), and water (45 g). A solution of sodium hydroxide (3.93 g) in water (11 g) is added over 20 minutes at ≦12° C., and the mixture is stirred for 30 min at 50° C. The reaction mixture is cooled to &lt;30° C. and aqueous HCl (0.90 g) is added bringing the pH from about 13 down to about 9. Isopropyl alcohol (80 g) is added to the reaction mixture over about 1 h at room temperature to precipitate the salt followed by overnight stirring. After stirring the suspension in an ice-bath for 3.5 h, the solid is collected and rinsed with ice-cold isopropyl alcohol (2×30 g). The collected solid is dried under vacuum (25 inches of Hg at 60° C.) to yield 12.53 g (80%) of the sodium salt as a off-white solid. 
     EXAMPLE 6  
     The reaction is carried out, under nitrogen, in a 500 mL×4 neck flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, water condenser (with gas inlet), and a thermocouple. The reactor is charged with sodium trimethylsilanolate (3.71 g) and THF (90 g) 5-methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid-4-oxide, ethyl ester (6.00 g), is added and the mixture is stirred for 4 h at room temperature. The solid is collected and rinsed with THF (3×45 g). Drying under vacuum (25 inches of Hg at 65° C.) yielded 5.59 g (96%) of the sodium salt as an off-white solid. 
     It will be understood that changes and modification may be made to the present invention which are within the skill of the art. Such changes and modifications are intended to be covered limited only by the scope of the appended claims.