Processes for the preparation of (3R,4S)-4-((4-benzyloxy)phenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((S)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxypropyl)-2-azetidinone, an intermediate for the synthesis of ezetimibe

摘要

The invention encompasses (3R,4S)-4-((4-benzyloxy)phenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-oxopropyl)-2-azetidinone (Compound 2a) having an enantiomeric purity of at least about 97.5%. The invention also encompasses Compound 2a having a chemical purity of at least about 97%. The invention further encompasses processes for preparing Compound 2a from Compound 1 having the following formula: The invention also encompasses processes for preparing a compound having the following formula: from a compound having the following formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: H or a hydroxyl protecting group. The invention also encompasses processes for preparing Compound 2a, preferably to form Compound 2a-Form 01. Also included are processes for preparing ezetimibe from Compound 2a-Form 01 or Compound 2a prepared according to the invention, compositions containing such ezetimibe, and methods for reducing cholesterol using such compositions.