NOVEL SYNTHESIS AND CRYSTALLIZATION OF PIPERAZINE RING-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS

摘要

The present invention is directed to methods for the preparation of piperazi ne ring-containing compounds, particularly mirtazapine. According to the presen t invention, the mirtazapine intermediate 1-(3-carboxypyridyl-2)-4-methyl-2- phenyl-piperazine is made by hydrolyzing 1-(3-cyanopyridyl-2)-4-methyl-2- phenyl-piperazine with a base where the base is present in a ratio of up to about 12 moles of the base per one mole of 1-(3-cyanopyridyl-2)-4-methyl-2- phenyl-piperazine. The mirtazapine intermediate 1-(3-carboxypyridly-2)-4- methyl-2-phenyl-piperazine may be made by hydrolyzing 1-(3-cyanopyridyl-2)-4 - methyl-2-phenyl-piperazine with potassium hydroxide at a temperature of at least about 130 ~C. The method of the present invention also includes reacti ng 2-amino-3-hydroxymethyl pyridine with N-methyl-1-phenyl-2, 2'-iminodiethyl chloride to form 1-(3-hydroxymethylpyridyl-2)-4-methyl-2-phenyl piperazine, and adding sulfuric acid to the 1-(3-hydroxymethylpyridyl-2)-phenyl-4- methylpiperazine to form mirtazapine. The present invention also relates to new processes for recrystallization of mirtazapine form crude mirtazapine.