Racemization process for optically active carboxylic acids or salts or esters thereof
US5847202A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07C55/00
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Optically active carboxylic acids, salts or esters, such as the profen-type compounds, are racemized in the presence by nitrogenous bases such as methylbenzylamine by heating an aqueous solution of such optically active compounds in the presence of a suitable excess of an alkali metal hydroxide relative to the amount optically active carboxylic compound present in the solution. The process not only enables conversion of inactive or undesirable enantiomers of compounds such as naproxen or ibuprofen into a usable, desirable enantiomers in an efficient and economical manner, but avoids conversion of the nitrogenous base into amide. Thus the deleterious consequences of amide formation are avoided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.