IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF RIZATRIPTAN BENZOATE

摘要

Present invention discloses an improved and commercially viable process for the preparation of rizatriptan benzoate of formula (I). According to the present process the hydrazone intermediate derived from the phenylhydrazine of formula- (III) and 4- dimethylaminobutyraldehyde diethyl acetal is gradually heated to 60-70 °C in aqueous sulfuric acid medium and maintained for 3-4hr to get rizatriptan with less dimeric impurity of formula (X). The resultant rizatriptan is isolated and converted into the pharmaceutically acceptable benzoate salt. Present process produces less percentage of dimeric (less than 3 %) or polymeric impurities compared to the prior art process and more yield of rizatriptan. Rizatriptan benzoate produced according to the present process has more than 99.5 % purity with less than 0.1% dimeric impurity of formula (X) by HPLC. Rizatriptan benzoate is useful for the treatment of migraine.