Claims
- 1. An improved process for producing compounds of formula (I) ##STR5## wherein R.sup.1 is lower alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are hydrogen, lower alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or halogen; and R.sup.2 is hydrogen, 4-halogen, 2- and 4-dihalogen, 3-trifluoromethyl, or 4-methoxy; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which comprises the steps
- (a) alkylating isatin of formula (XI) ##STR6## wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are as defined above to produce the compound of formula (XIII) ##STR7## wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are as defined above (b) reducing said compound of formula (XIII) to produce the substituted .beta.-benzyltryptophol of formula (VII) ##STR8## wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 are as defined above (c) reacting said tryptophol of formula (VII) with 3-oxo-2-alkanoic acid, alkyl ester of formula (VIII) ##STR9## wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above and R.sup.3 is lower alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms to produce isomers A and B of the alkyl ester of formula (IX) ##STR10## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are as defined above
- (d) separating said isomer A from isomer B by crystallizing isomer A from an alcohol solvent and hydrolyzing isomer A to obtain the desired compound of formula (I)
- wherein in step (a) the improvement comprises in carrying out said alkylation in the presence of lithium diisopropylamide at about -5.degree. C. and quenching the reaction mixture in an aqueous solution containing acetic acid and wherein in step (b) the improvement comprises in reducing and hydrolyzing said compound of formula (XIII) with sodium borohydride in dry tetrahydrofuran to produce the benzylindolylacetic acid of structural formula (V) ##STR11## wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are as defined above and reducing the carboxylic acid group to the primary alcohol with BF.sub.3.Et.sub.2 O to produce said substituted .beta.-benzyltryptophol of formula (VII).
Parent Case Info
This is a division of copending application U.S. Ser. No. 089,881, filed Aug. 27, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,961.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3843681 |
Demerson et al. |
Oct 1974 |
|
3939178 |
Demerson et al. |
Feb 1976 |
|
3974179 |
Demerson et al. |
Aug 1976 |
|
4670462 |
Katz et al. |
Jun 1987 |
|
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
89881 |
Aug 1987 |
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