Patent ID: 7074940

Claim:
A process for preparing a pharmaceutically acceptable atorvastatin salt in non-crystalline form, which comprises: (a) providing a solution of atorvastatin lactone in a non-hydroxylic solvent; (b) opening the lactone ring; (c) optionally concentrating the solution to not more than half its initial volume; (d) adding water to the optionally concentrated solution; (e) adding a solvent which is slightly miscible or immiscible with water and in which the pharmaceutically acceptable atorvastatin salt is insoluble or practically insoluble, in an amount not less than the water volume added in step (d); (f) optionally mixing the phases, and then separating the two phases; (g) neutralizing the aqueous phase; (h) converting atorvastatin in the aqueous phase to the pharmaceutically acceptable salt; and (i) precipitating the pharmaceutically acceptable atorvastatin salt in non-crystalline form.