Process for the preparation of intermediates useful in the synthesis of statin derivatives

1. A process for the preparation of an intermediate compound of formula VI suitable for the preparation of statin derivatives, which process comprises reaction of an intermediate of formula I

wherein X is halogen, acyloxy, activated hydrocarbyloxy, activated hydrocarbylthio or —N(CH 3 )—OCH 3 , R a is a hydroxy-protecting group and R b is a carboxy-protecting group, with chain lengthening, including the following reaction steps, as described below, wherein the intermediate of formula I reacts with an ethylene of formula II

wherein Y a is halogen or hydrogen; there being obtained a keto compound of formula III

wherein Y a is halogen or hydrogen, X a is halogen or acyloxy, R a is hydrogen, obtainable after removal of a hydroxy-protecting group R a , or a hydroxy-protecting group and R b is a carboxy-protecting group; the compound of formula III is reacted further in accordance with the following method (3), wherein

a compound of formula III wherein X a is halogen or acyloxy, Y a is hydrogen, R a is hydrogen and R b is a hydroxy-protecting group is reacted diastereoselectively by means of a suitable reagent to form a syn-diol compound of formula Va

wherein X a is halogen or acyloxy, and R a ′ and R c ′ are as defined for compounds of formula V and R b is as defined for compounds of formula III; and the compound of formula Va is then reacted with a salt of hydrazoic acid to form a compound of formula V

wherein R a ′ and R c ′ are each hydrogen or, after subsequent introduction of protecting groups, R a ′ and R c ′ are each independently of the other hydrogen or a protecting group, with the proviso that at least one of the two radicals is a protecting group, or R a ′ and R c ′ together are a bridging hydroxy-protecting group, and R b is as defined above for compounds of formula III

and the compound of formula V so obtainable is then reduced to the corresponding amino compound of formula VI

wherein R a ′ and R c ′ are each independently of the other hydrogen or a hydroxy-protecting group or together are a bridging hydroxy-protecting group, and R b is a carboxy-protecting group;

wherein in the processes mentioned above, at any stage, even where not explicitly mentioned, if necessary one or more or all of the protecting groups present in the compounds of formulae I to VI in question are removed or one or more or all of the functional groups that are not to participate in a reaction, or that would interfere with the reaction, are converted into protected groups by the introduction of suitable protecting groups, and it being possible for the compounds of formulae Ito VI, where salt-forming groups are present and the reaction in question is not impaired, also to be in salt form.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein a compound of formula III, wherein X a is halogen and Y a is hydrogen, R a is hydrogen and R b is a carboxy-protecting group; is reacted diastereoselectively with hydrogen in the presence of an alkali metal salt or an alkaline-earth metal salt and a heterogeneous platinum catalyst to form a syn-diol compound of formula Va

wherein X a is halogen and R a ′, R c ′ and R b are as defined for compounds of formula V.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein a compound of formula III is reacted diastereoselectively with a mixture of triethylborane or diethylborane methoxide with sodium borhydride to form a syn-diol compound of formula V.

4. A process according to claim 1 for the preparation of statin precursors of formula VI, which comprises as reaction steps the reaction of a key intermediate of formula I wherein X is halogen, acyloxy, activated hydrocarbyloxy, activated hydrocarbylthio or —N(CH 3 )OCH 3 , R a is a hydroxy-protecting group and R b is a carboxy-protecting group with an ethylene of formula II

wherein Y a is halogen or hydrogen; there being obtained a keto compound of formula III

wherein Y a is hydrogen, X a is halogen or acyloxy, R a is hydrogen, obtainable after removal of a hydroxy-protecting group R a , or a hydroxy-protecting group and R b is a carboxy-protecting group;

the conversion of the compound of formula III by means of a suitable reagent diastereoselectively to form a syn-diol compound of formula Va

wherein X a is halogen and R a ′ and R c ′ are as defined for compounds of formula III and R b is as defined for compounds of formula III; then the reaction of the compound of formula Va with a salt of hydrazoic acid to form a compound of formula V

wherein R a ′ and R c ′ are each hydrogen, or, after subsequent introduction of protecting groups, R a ′ and R c ′ are each independently of the other hydrogen or a protecting group, with the proviso that at least one of the two radicals is a protecting group, or R a ′ and IR c ′ together are a bridging hydroxy-protecting group; and R b is as defined above for compounds of formula III; and then reduction thereof to form an amino compound of formula VI;

and at any stage, even where not explicitly mentioned, if necessary one or more or all of the protecting groups present in the compounds of formulae I, Ill, Va, V and VI in question are removed or one or more or all of the functional groups that are not to participate in a reaction, or that would interfere with the reaction, are converted into protected groups by the introduction of suitable protecting groups, and it being possible for the compounds of formulae I, Ill and/or VII, where salt-forming groups are present and the reaction in question is not impaired, also to be in salt form.

5. A compound of formula Va

wherein X a is halogen or acyloxy, R a ′ is hydrogen and R c ′ is hydrogen, or R a ′ and R c ′ are each independently of the other hydrogen or a protecting group, with the proviso that at least one of the two radicals is a protecting group, or R a ′ and R c ′ together are a bridging hydroxy-protecting group; and R b is a carboxy-protecting group,

which compound is 7-chloro-3,5-dihydroxy-heptanoic acid ethyl ester or (3R,5R)-7-chloro-3,5-(2′,2′-isopropylidenedioxy)-heptanoic acid ethyl ester.