Patent ID: 7470812

Claim:
A process for the preparation of (S)-Pregabalin, comprising: a) combining a chiral amine of formula 23, an organic solvent selected from at least one of aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, alkanes, and ketones, and a base to obtain a mixture; b) cooling the mixture to a temperature of about 10° C. to about −70° C.; c) adding to the mixture 3-isobutyl glutaric anhydride of formula 22; to obtain the compound of formula 24; d) recovering the compound of formula 24 from the mixture; e) converting the compound of formula 24 to a compound of the following formula 25 f) recovering the compound of formula 25; g) combining the recovered compound of formula 25 with bromine, water, and an alkaline hydroxide to obtain a basic mixture; h) heating the basic mixture to a temperature of about 60° C. to about 85° C.; i) adding to the basic mixture a strong mineral acid to obtain an acidic mixture; j) reacting the acidic mixture with a base to obtain (S)-Pregabalin, and recovering (S)-Pregabalin; wherein Ar is a C 6-10 aromatic group selected from the group consisting of naphthyl, phenyl, and substituted phenyl and R is straight or branched C 1-4 alkyl, ester or carboxylic acid.