PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF SODIUM SALT OF IBUPROFEN OF DIFFERENT PARTICLE SIZES

摘要

A free-flowing hydrated sodium salt of ibuprofen of controlled median particle size and water content is provided. It can be produced by adding aqueous NaOH to a non-boiling solution or slurry of ibuprofen in an organic solvent that can be distilled along with water at a temperature in the range of 50 to 120°C. The rate of NaOH addition is at a rate that does not cause the resultant reaction mixture to boil before the addition has been completed. After completing the addition, the water is removed with some of the organic solvent by distillation. After cooling, the hydrated sodium salt of ibuprofen is recovered from the resultant slurry. The process enables the median particle size of the sodium salt of ibuprofen formed to be controlled by selection and use of a predetermined effective concentration of NaOH in the aqueous NaOH solution used.