PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARVEDILOL

摘要

A process for the preparation of carvedilol of formula (I) (I) either in enantiomeric substantially pure form, or as an enantiomeric mixture, optionally as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which process comprises reacting 2,3-eopxypropoxy carbazole of formula (II) (II) or the R or S enantiomer thereof, with N-[2-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)ethyl]-benzylamine of formula (V) (V) to yield benzyl carvedilol of formula (VI) (VI) which is debenzylated by catalytic hydrogenation to yield carvedilol of formula (I), either in enantiomeric substantially pure form, or as an enantiomeric mixture, and if desired reacting the thus formed carvedilol of formula (I) with an inorganic or organic acid to yield a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and/or, if desired, separating the enantiomers. The above process is characterised in that reaction of said 2,3-epoxypropoxy carbazole of formula (II) with said N-[2-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)ethyl]-benzylamine of formula (V) is carried out in water as the reaction medium. The present invention further provides carvedilol of formula (I) prepared by a process as described above, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same and therapeutic uses thereof.