Process for preparation of fingolimod

1. A process for preparation of fingolimod, a compound of Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, free of regioisomeric impurity compound of Formula IA

comprising:

(a) reacting a compound of Formula II with octanoyl halide to obtain a reaction mixture comprising a compound of Formula III and its corresponding regioisomer a compound of Formula IIIA;

(b) hydrolyzing the reaction mixture resulting from step (a) to obtain a reaction mixture comprising a compound of Formula IV and its corresponding regioisomer a compound of Formula IVA; and isolating the compound of Formula IV which is free of its regioisomeric impurity compound of Formula IVA;

(c) converting the compound of Formula IV resulting from step (b) to a compound of Formula III by subjecting to acetylation;

(d) converting the compound of Formula III to a compound of Formula VI by subjecting to reduction and deacetylation;

(e) converting the compound of Formula VI to a compound of Formula IX; and

(f) converting the compound of Formula IX to fingolimod, a compound of Formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 , for isolating the compound of Formula IV which is free of its regioisomeric impurity compound of Formula IVA, comprising treating the reaction mixture comprising a compound of Formula IV and its corresponding regioisomer a compound of Formula IVA, with a solvent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon solvent, ester solvent, ether solvent or mixtures thereof and isolating the compound of Formula IV which is free of its regioisomer compound of Formula IVA.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 , comprising treating the reaction mixture comprising a compound of Formula IV and us corresponding regioisomer a compound of Formula IVA, with a hydrocarbon solvent and isolating the compound of Formula IV which is free of its regioisomer compound of Formula IVA.

4. A process as claimed in claim 2 , comprising treating the reaction mixture comprising a compound of Formula IV and its corresponding regioisomer a compound of Formula IVA with a mixture of hydrocarbon solvent and an ester solvent.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in step (d) the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, H 2 /catalyst, ammonium formate triethylsilane in combination with trifluoroacetic acid.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is the hydrochloride.

7. The process of claim 2 , wherein the compound of formula IV, free of its regioisomeric impurity compound of Formula IVA, is thereafter converted to fingolimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula IX is free of its regioisomeric impurity compound of Formula IXA and thereafter converted to fingolimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

9. Fingolimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt free of regioisomeric impurity compound of Formula IA or salt thereof as determined by HPLC

10. A process as claimed in claim 1 further comprising recrystallization of fingolimod hydrochloride, using a solvent system comprising methanol and an ester solvent.

11. An isolated compound of Formula XII, having the structure

12. Fingolimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as claimed in claim 9 wherein compound of Formula XII is present to an extent of less than 0.1% relative to the amount of fingolimod as determined by HPLC