Table 6. Comparative results obtained with the use of a different oxidizing agentb
S. no.
4 (kg)
oxidizing agent
byproduct
solvent system
reaction time (h)/temp (°C)
yield %
1a
40.0
40.0
aq NaOCl
m-CPBA
NaCl
m-CBA
CH3CN/H2O (240 L: 5.4 L)
CHCl3 (1325 L)
2/25
8/-20
62.5
57.0
2b
a See reference 3a. b To evaluate the performance of NaOCl, it was compared with the m-CPBA oxidation system.
Table 5. This work has provided a great insight into how the
simple filtrations can significantly influence the quality of the
API.
IR spectrum was recorded on Perkin-Elmer model spec-
trum series FT-IR as KBr pellet. Thermal analysis was
carried out on DSC Q1000 of TA Instruments. Micro-
scopic picture study was performed with a Nikon Eclipse
50 ipol.
Conclusion
Synthesis of 2-[[{4-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethoxy)-3-methylpy-
ridine-2yl}methyl]thio]-1H-benzimidazole Intermediate (4).
To a solution of sodium hydroxide (45 kg, 1125 mol, in 300 L
water) solution, was added 2-Mercapto benzimidazole 3 (47.2
kg, 314.66 mol), and the mixture stirred at 30-40 °C for
homogeneous solution. To this mixture was added 2-chlorom-
ethyl-3methyl-4-(2, 2, 2-trifluoroethoxy)pyridine hydrochloride
2 (75.2 kg, 271.7 mol, in 450 L water) solution about 2.0-2.5
h and stirred at 25-30 °C for 2.0-2.5 h. The solid was filtered
and washed with water (40 L) to afford wet 4, subsequently
the wet solid 4 was suspended in water (375 L) at 50- 55 °C
and stirred for 30-45 min. Then the solid was filtered at 25-30
°C and dried under vacuum to obtain thio ether 4 as off-white
solid in 97.5% (94.12 kg) yield with 99.5% HPLC purity.131H
NMR (400 MHz): δ 12.6 (s, 1H), 8.3 (d, J ) 5.6, 1H), 7.4 (br,
2H), 7.1 (m, 3H), 4.8 (q, J ) 8.8, 2H), 4.7 (s, 2H), 2.2 (s, 3H);
Mass: Anal., Calc (C16H14 F3N3OS) (m/z): 353 and found (M
+ H) ) 354.
Synthesis of 2-[[4-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethoxy)pyrid-2-yl]eth-
ylsulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazoles (Crude Lansoprazole). To a
suspension of 2-[[{4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-3-methylpyridine-
2yl}methyl]thio]-1H-benzimidazole 4 (40 kg, 113.31 mol) in
acetonitrile (240 L) was added sodium hypochlorite (94 kg, 132
mol)/sodium hydroxide/water (5.44 kg, 136 mol/16.8 L) mixture
at 20-25 °C about 60-120 min. After maintaining the reaction
mass at the same temperature, water (80 L) was added, and
the pH was adjusted to 9.0-9.5 by using 10% acetic acid
solution (90 L) at 0-10 °C. To this suspension was added water
(240 L) and was stirred for 2-3 h at 0-10 °C. The solid
material was filtered and washed with water (100 L) and dried
at 45-50 °C to constant weight to afford crude lansoprazole 1
in 85% yield (35.5 kg) with 97.5% HPLC purity.13
In conclusion, we have developed an improved process for
production of lansoprazole 1, anti-ulcer drug, by switching to
cheaply available eco-friendly NaOCl in place of expensive
m-CPBA for oxidation of thio ether 4 (see Table 6 for
comparative results). A systematic investigation of crystalliza-
tion parameters in the final stage enabled us to control the water
content in the final API to <0.10% (as recommended by USP
28 monograph10a).
Experimental Section
Materials and Instruments. All commercially available
materials and solvents were used as received without any
further purification. 1H and 13C NMR spectra were
recorded in DMSO-d6 at 400 and 50 MHz, respectively,
on a Varian Gemini 200 MHz spectrometer. The chemical
shift values were reported on δ scale in ppm with respect
to TMS (δ 0.00 ppm) and DMSO-d6 (δ 39.5 ppm) as
internal standards, respectively. The ESI mass spectrum
was recorded on 4000-Q-trap LC/MS spectrometer. FT-
(10) For reviews, see: (a) The United States Pharmacopeia: USP 28: NF
23, 28th rev. of The Pharmacopeia of the U.S., 23rd ed. of The
National Formulary; United States Pharmacopeial Convention; Rock-
Robinson, D. Org. Process Res. DeV. 2007, 11 (5), 797–801. (d)
Butters, M.; Catterick, D.; Craig, A.; Curzons, A.; Dale, D.; Gilmore,
A.; Green, S. P.; Marziano, I.; Sherlock, J.-P.; White, W. Chem. ReV.
2006, 106, 3002–3027. (e) International Conference on Harmonization
of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for
Human Use (ICH) Q3C (R3): Impurities: Guidelines for Residual
SolVents; International Conference on Harmonisation, 1997.
(11) Ludescher, J.; Khan, R. A. R.; Das, T. C. WO/2007/017244 A2, 2007.
(12) Attempts were made to reduce water/THF levels with the following
input sample: water content 0.5% /THF 1300 ppm. Experimental
results: (a) Hot water slurry 1.0%/850 ppm. (b) THF slurry: 0.5%/
850 ppm. (c) Drying in rotavapor/air tray drier/vacuum tray drier at
50-55 °C for 20-25 h samples displayed ∼0.18-0.2%/750-800
ppm, respectively.
Purification of Crude 2-[[4-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethoxy)-
pyrid-2-yl]ethylsulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazoles (Lansopra-
zole). Crude lansoprazole 1 (30 kg) was dissolved in THF (270
L) at 45-50 °C and cooled to 25-30 °C; water (540 L) was
added in about 60-90 min. The suspension was stirred at 5-10
°C for 45-60 min. The solid material was slowly (about 60-90
min) filtered on PNF and washed with water (150 L). The thus
obtained wet solid was suspended in ethyl acetate (90 L) at
45-50 °C and stirred for 45-60 min. Then the heterogeneous
mass was allowed to cool to 5-10 °C for 2-3 h. Then the
solid compound was filtered and washed with ethyl acetate (30
L), the wet solid was suspended in ethyl acetate (90 L) at 45-50
°C and stirred for 45-60 min, and then the heterogeneous mass
was cooled to 5-10 °C for 2-3 h. The thus obtained solid
(13) Purity of compound 1 has been determined by RSHPLC analysis
[Column YMC-PAK ODS-A 100 mm × 4.6 mm, 3 µ or equivalent,
15 µL; flow rate 1.0 mL/min and injection load 15 µL with a UV
detector at 285 nm]. Mobile phase - A: water (100%); mobile phase - B:
acetonitrile/water/triethylamine, pH 7.0 [160:40:1 (v/v)]. Diluents prepara-
tion: acetonitrile/water/triethylamine, pH 10.5 by o-phosphoric acid
[40:60:1 (v/v)].
232
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Vol. 14, No. 1, 2010 / Organic Process Research & Development