Abstract

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of threo-methylphenidate hydrochloride. According to a preferred embodiment, the process comprises the following steps: (a) contacting 1-(phenylglyoxylyl)piperidine arenesulfonylhydrazone of the formula

wherein Ar denotes an aryl group, where the aryl group may be substituted by a C1–C6 alkyl, halo or nitro group;

with an inorganic base in the presence of a water immiscible organic solvent and a phase transfer catalyst to obtain (R*,R*)-enriched 7-phenyl-1-azabicyclo [4.2.0]octan-8-one of the formula: (b) reacting the (R*,R*)-enriched 7-phenyl-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]octan-8-one prepared in step (a) with a solution of hydrogen chloride in methanol to obtain threo-enriched methylphenidate hydrochloride; (c) crystallizing the threo-enriched methylphenidate hydrochloride prepared in step (b) to give the desired threo-methylphenidate hydrochloride. Preferably, the threo-methylphenidate hydrochloride produced by the process of the present invention contains no more than 1% of the erythro-isomer.

Other References

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