Process for the preparation of 1, 2, 4-trioxolane antimalarials

1. A process for the preparation of cis-adamantane-2-spiro-3′-8′-[[[(2′-amino-2′-methylpropyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]-1′,2′,4′-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane, of Formula III

having no dimer impurity of Formula IV,

wherein the process comprises,

(a) reacting a compound of Formula II

 in dichloromethane with an activating agent forming a mixed anhydride, and

(b) reacting the mixed anhydride in situ with an ethanolic solution of 1,2-diamino-2-methylpropane to give a compound of Formula III, wherein 1.8-3 mole equivalents of 1,2-diamino-2-methylpropane are used in 20-80 times w/v of solvent system of dichloromethane and ethanol (in the ratio of 1:1 v/v).

2. A process for the preparation of cis-adamantane-2-spiro-3′-8′-[[[(2′-amino-2′-methylpropyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]-1′,2′,4′-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane, of Formula III

having no dimer impurity of Formula IV,

wherein the process comprises,

(a) reacting a compound of Formula II

 in dichloromethane with an activating agent forming a mixed anhydride,

(b) isolating the mixed anhydride, and

(c) reacting the dichloromethane solution of mixed anhydride with an ethanolic solution of 1,2-diamino-2-methylpropane, to give a compound of Formula III, wherein 1.8-3 mole equivalents of 1,2-diamino-2-methylpropane are used in 20-80 times w/v of solvent system of dichloromethane and ethanol (in the ratio of 1:1 v/v).

3. The process of claim 1 or 2 wherein the activating agent is selected from methyl chloroformate, ethyl chloroformate, propyl chloroformate, n-butyl chloroformate, isobutyl chloroformate and pivaloyl chloride.

4. The process of claim 1 or 2 wherein the reaction of the compound of Formula II with the activating agent and 1,2-diamino-2-methylpropane to give the compound of Formula III is carried out in the presence of an organic base.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the organic base is trimethyl amine, triethyl amine, isopropyl amine or mixture(s) thereof.

6. The process of claim 1 or 2 wherein cis-adamantane-2-spiro-3′-8′-[[[(2′-amino-2′-methylpropyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]-1′,2′,4′-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane of Formula III has HPLC purity not less than 96%.

7. The process of claim 1 or 2 , which further comprises the conversion of the produced cis-adamantane-2-spiro-3′-8′-[[[(2′-amino-2′-methylpropyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]-1′,2′,4′-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane, of Formula III

having no dimer impurity of Formula IV,

to compounds of Formula I,

wherein the process comprises reacting the compound of Formula III with an acid of Formula HX to give the compounds of Formula I, wherein X is an anion selected from acetate, adipate, alginate, citrate, aspartate, benzoate, benzene sulfonate, bisulfate, butyrate, camphorate, camphor sulfonate, digluconate, glycerophosphate, glycolate, malonate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, fumarate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, isethionate, lactate, maleate, methane sulfonate, nicotinate, 2-naphthalene sulfonate, oxalate, palmitoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, succinate, tartrate, thiocyanate, phosphate, glutamate, bicarbonate, p-toluene sulfonate or undecanoate.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein cis-adamantane-2-spiro-3′-8′-[[[(2′-amino-2′-methylpropyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]-1′,2′,4′-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane of Formula III has HPLC purity not less than 96%.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein the reaction of the compound of Formula III with the acid of Formula HX to give the compound of Formula I is carried out in an alcoholic solvent, hydrocarbon solvent or mixture(s) thereof.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the alcoholic solvent is methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or mixture(s) thereof.

11. The process of claim 9 wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is hexane, heptane or mixture(s) thereof.