PRODUCTION OF L-(-)-CARNITINE CHLORIDE STARTING FROM 3, 4-EPOXYBUTYRIC ESTER

摘要

Disclosed is a process for the preparation of the L(-)-carnitine chloride having formula (I): …… which comprises:… a) reacting a racemic ester of (R, S)-3, 4-epoxybutyric acid having formula (II): …… wherein R represents a C1-C10 alkyl group or a benzyl group, with an enzyme or with a microorganism producing said enzyme, capable of hydrolyzing asymmetrically and in a prevalent way, enanitiomer S(-), and separating said enantiomer S(-) according to usual techniques from non-reacted ester (III) which is substantially present in the R(+) form;… b) reacting said ester (II) in its form R(+) or the corresponding chlorohydrin having formula (III), obtained by reaction with hydrochloric acid or with a chlorotrialkylsilane, …… with trimenthylamine hydrochloride or with trimethylamine itself, respectively, to obtain an ester having formula (IV): …… and… c) hydrolyzing said ester having formula (IV) in the presence of HCL to obtain L(-)-carnitine chloride having formula (I).… L(-)-carnitine is an eutrophic and cardioprotecting agent for the cure of myocardic ischemia, angina pectoris and myocardium sclerosis.… The R(+) forms of the esters of 3, 4-epoxybutyric acid, obtained in step (a) of the process are intermediate products.