FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of making optically active compounds, particularly the preparation of optically active oxathiolane nucleosides .

BACKGROUND

Classes of compounds known as 2-substituted-4-substituted-l, 3- oxathiolanes have been found to have potent antiviral activity. In particular, these compounds have been found to act as potent inhibitors of HIV-I replication in T-lymphocytes over a prolonged period of time with less cytotoxic side effects than compounds known in the art. These compounds have also been found active against 3TC-resistant HIV strains. These compounds are also useful in prophylaxis and treatment of hepatitis B virus infections .

Cis-2-Hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane can be produced by the methods described by Mansour et al . , "Anti- Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Anti-Hepatitis-B Virus Activities and Toxicities of the Enantiomers of 2 ' -Deoxy-3 ' - oxa-4 ' -thiacytidine and Their 5-Fluoro Analogues in vitro", J. Med. Chem. , (1995), Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 1-4, as well as US 6,228,860 or Nucleosides and Nucleotides, (1995) 14(3-5) pp. 627-735 which are incorporated herein by reference.

Typically, when compounds are desired as a single enantiomer they may be obtained either by resolution of the mixture of the two cis enantiomers by chiral HPLC or by stereospecific synthesis from isometrically pure starting material or any convenient intermediate. A complete review of known technology may be found in "Enantiomers, Racemates and Resolutions" by J. Jacques, A. Collet Sc S. H. Wilen (John Wiley & Sons, 1981) . Alternatively, compounds or any convenient intermediate may be resolved by enzymatic resolution with a suitable enzyme such as cytidine deaminase or selective enzymatic degradation of a

suitable derivative. See for example Storer et al . , "The resolution and Absolute Stereochemistry of the Enantiomers of cis-1 [2 (Hydroxymethyl)-l,3-Oxathiolan-5-Yl)Cytosine (BCH-189) : Equipotent Anti-HIV Agents", Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 12(2), -225-236 (1993) .

Another process known as resolution by formation of diastereomeric compounds require intervention of chiral agents . Unlike enantiomers, diastereomers may have significantly different physico-chemical properties that may allow for the separation from one another. One variation of such technique involves the formation and separation of diastereomeric salts between a racemic substance and an optically active resolving acid or base. Pasteur first reported the resolution of a racemic acid using an optically active base (Pasteur, L., CR Acad. Sci. (1853) 37 p.162; Pasteur, L., Ann. Chim (Paris) (1853) 3, 38 p. 437) . A resolution using nonstochiometric quantities of chiral agents was studied by Marckwald 1896 and later referred to as "method of half-quantity" (Marckwald, W. , Ber. (1896), 29, p. 42; Marckwald, W., Ber. (1896), 29, p. 43). The process for the resolution of tartaric acid through crystallization of its salt of cinchonine was improved by Marckwald while using only half of the cinchonine necessary for formation of the tartrate salt. The resolution is based on the separation of one of the diastereomers and one of the enantiomers rather than the separation of two diastereomeric salts formed in equal quantities. When using the method of half-quantity, the racemate is partially neutralized by the optically active resolving agent. In the process described by Pope & Peachey (Pope, W.J., Peachey,S.J. J, Chem. Soc. (1899) 75, p.1066) the excess of racemate not neutralized by the resolving agent is neutralized by the addition of the necessary quantity of an achiral acid or base (depending on whether the resolving agent was an acid or base) .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a process for producing optically active compound of formula I or II :

I II wherein:

Ri is H, C ₁ -S alkyl, C ₆ -I ₂ aryl, C ₆ -I ₂ arylalkyl (e.g., C ₇ -I ₂ arylalkyl), (CO)C _L6 alkyl, (CO) O-Ci- ₆ alkyl, (CO) C ₆ _ ₁₂ aryl , or (CO)C ₆ - _I2 arylalkyl (e.g., (CO) C ₇ _i ₂ arylalkyl) ;

R ₂ is H, Ci_ ₆ alkyl or CO-R ₅ ; wherein R ₅ is H or Ci_ ₆ alkyl; R3 is H, Ci_6 alkyl, bromide, chloride, fluoride, iodide or CF ₃ ; comprising: a) reacting a compound of formula III in the cis ^■ configuration:

III with a chiral acid to produce two diastereomeric salts; b) recovering substantially one diastereomeric salt; c) converting said one diastereomeric salt into said optically active compound.

In another aspect, there is provided a method for resolving a compound of formula III, in the cis configuration:

III wherein:

R ₁ is H, Ci-6 alkyl, C _S - ₁₂ arγl _; C ₅ - _I2 arylalkyl (e . g. , C ₇ _ ₁₂ arylalkyl) , (CO) Ci_ ₆ alkyl, (CO)O-C ₁ ^ ₅ alkyl, (CO)O-C ₆ - _I2 aryl, or (CO) -C ₆ _ ₁₂ arylalkyl (e.g., (CO) C ₇ -I ₂ arylalkyl) ; R ₂ is chosen from H, C _1S alkyl, Ci_ ₆ acyl and CO-R ₅ ; wherein R ₅ is H or C _1^6 alkyl;

R ₃ is H, Ci-6 alkyl, bromide, chloride, fluoride, iodide or CF ₃ ; comprising: a) reacting said compound of formula III with a chiral acid to produce two diastereomeric salts; b) recovering substantially one diastereomeric salt; c) converting said one diastereomeric salt into compound of formula I or II :

I II

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a process for producing optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin- 1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane, comprising: a) reacting a chiral acid with cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin- 1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane to produce two diastereomeric salts; b) recovering substantially one diastereomeric salt; c) converting said one diastereomeric salt into said optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1,3- oxathiolane .

In still a further aspect, there is provided a process for producing (-) -cis-2-h.ydroxymeth.yl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1,3- oxathiolane comprising: a) reacting cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl ) -1, 3- oxathiolane with a half quantity molar amount of a chiral acid to substantially produce (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane.chiral acid salt, said molar ratio being with regard to cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin- 1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane;

b) recovering said (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) - 1, 3-oxathiolane.chiral acid salt; c) converting said (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) - 1, 3-oxathiolane.chiral acid salt ^' into said (-)-cis-2- hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane .

In still a further aspect, there is provided a process for producing optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 '- yl) -1 , 3 -oxathiolane, comprising: a) reacting cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane with a chiral acid and an achiral acid to produce substantially one diastereomeric salt and substantially one enantiomeric salt; b) recovering said diastereomeric salt; c) converting said diastereomeric salt into optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3 -oxathiolane .

In a further aspect, the present invention further provides novel cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3 -oxathiolane salts.

DETAILED DECRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a process for producing optically active compound of formula I or II:

I II wherein :

Ri is H, d- ₆ alkyl, C ₆ -i ₂ aryl, C ₆ -i ₂ arylalkyl (e.g. , C ₇ - _I2 arylalkyl) , (CO) Ci_ ₆ alkyl, (CO)O-CiJ ₆ alkyl, (CO) C ₆ - _I2 aryl, of ( CO )C ₅ _ ₁₂ arylalkyl (e.g., (CO) C ₇ _i ₂ arylalkyl) ;

R ₂ is H, Ci- ₆ alkyl or CO-R ₅ ; wherein R ₅ is H or Cχ-6 alkyl;

R ₃ is H, Ci_ ₆ alkyl, bromide, chloride, fluoride, iodide or

CF ₃ ; comprising:

a) reacting a compound of formula III in the cis configuration:

III with a chiral acid to produce two diastereomeric salts; b) recovering substantially one diastereomeric salt; c) converting said one diastereomeric salt into said optically active compound.

The scope the present invention includes a process as described above wherein the over-all yield of the desired enantiomer is equal to or greater than 25% (10Og of racemate would produce at least 25g of the desired enantiomer) .

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which generates a final product which is substantially in the form of a single enantiomer. Additionally, an embodiment of the present invention includes a process described above which results in a product having an enantiomeric excess of 99% or higher.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a process for producing optically active compound of formula I or II:

wherein: Ri, R ₂ , R ₃ are as defined above, comprising: a) reacting a compound of formula III in the cis configuration:

III with a chiral acid to produce two diastereomeric salts; b) recovering substantially one diastereomeric salt; c) converting said one diastereomeric salt into said optically- active compound.

There is also provided a method for resolving a compound of formula III, in the cis configuration:

III wherein: R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ are as defined above, comprising: a) reacting said compound of formula III with a chiral acid to produce two diastereomeric salts; b) recovering substantially one diastereomeric salt; c) converting said one diastereomeric salt into a compound of formula I or II :

I II

In one embodiment, R ₁ is H, Ci_6 alkyl, (CO)C ₁ -S alkyl, (CO)O-C ₁ .^ alkyl or (CO)C ₆ -i2 aryl .

In further embodiments : R ₁ is H, (CO) C ₁ . ₆ alkyl or (CO)C ₆ - _I2 aryl, R ₁ is H,

Ri is (CO)C ₆ -^ aryl. Still in further embodiments : R. ₂ is H or Ci-6 alkyl,

R ₂ is CO-R ₅ , wherein R ₅ is H or Ci_ ₆ alkyl, R ₂ is formyl or acetyl.

In one embodiment, R3 is H, Cχ_6 alkyl or fluoride. In further embodiments :

R3 is H or fluoride, R ₃ is H,

R ₃ is fluoride.

In one embodiment, the chiral acid is (lR)-(-)-10- camphorsulfonic acid, (-) -2 , 3-dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid, (+)-L- tartaric acid or (-) -L-malic. acid.

In one embodiment, the chiral acid is (lR)-(-)-10- camphorsulfonic acid.

In another embodiment, the optically active compound is

In another embodiment, the optically active compound is

II

In one embodiment, the two diastereomeric salts comprise a first more soluble diastereomeric salt and a second less soluble diastereomeric salt.

In a further embodiment, step b) described above further comprises recovering a second diastereomeric salt.

The present invention further provides a process for producing optically active compound of formula IV:

IV wherein: R ₄ is H or fluoride; comprising: a) reacting a compound of formula III in the cis configuration:

^' III with a chiral acid selected from (IR) - (-) -10-camphorsulfonic acid, (-) -2, 3-dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid, (+) -L-tartaric acid or (-)-L-malic acid, to produce two , diastereomeric salts; b) recovering substantially one diastereomeric salt; c) converting said one diastereomeric salt into said optically active compound.

In one aspect, there is provided a process for producing optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane, comprising: a) reacting a chiral acid with cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin- 1' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane to produce two diastereomeric salts; b) recovering substantially one diastereomeric salt; c) converting said one diastereomeric salt into said optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane .

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane is crystalline.

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl--4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane is the (-) enantiomer.

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane 'is the (+) enantiomer.

In one embodiment, the chiral acid is (lR)-(-)-10- camphorsulfonic acid, (-) -2, 3-dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid, (+)-L- tartaric acid or (-)-L-malic acid.

In one embodiment, the chiral acid is (lR)-(-)-10- camphorsulfonic acid.

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1 , 3-oxathiolane has an enantiomeric excess of 60% or higher.

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane has an enantiomeric excess of 70% or higher.

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane has an enantiomeric excess of 80% or higher.

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane has an enantiomeric excess of

90% or higher.

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane has an enantiomeric excess of

95% or higher.

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- {cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane has an enantiomeric excess of or higher .

In one embodiment, the optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane has an enantiomeric excess of 99% or higher.

In one aspect, there is provided a process for producing (-)- cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1 , 3-oxathiolane.chiral acid salt, comprising: a) reacting cis-2-h.ydroxymeth.yl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane with a chiral acid to produce (-)-cis-2- hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1 , 3-oxathiolane»chiral acid salt and (+) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane»chiral acid salt; b) recovering said (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) - 1, 3-oxathiolane»chiral acid salt.

In one embodiment, said step b) further comprises recovering (+) -cis^-hydroxymethyl^- (cytosin-1 ' -yl ) -1 , 3- oxathiolane«chiral acid salt.

In one embodiment, said (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 '- yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane.chiral acid salt contains less than 30% of (+) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1,3- oxathiolane.chiral acid salt.

In further embodiments :

(-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1,3- oxathiolane-chiral acid salt contains less than 20% of (+)-cis- 2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane-chiral acid salt; (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1,3- oxathiolane»chiral acid salt contains less than 10% of (+)-cis- 2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1 , 3-oxathiolane«chiral acid salt;

(-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl ) -1 , 3- oxathiolane»chiral acid salt contains less than 5% of (+)-cis- 2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1 , 3-oxathiolane«chiral acid salt;

(-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1,3- oxathiolane.chiral acid salt contains less than 1% of (+)-cis-

2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane.chiral acid salt; ( - ) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1,3- oxathiolane. chiral acid salt is substantially free of (+)-cis- 2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane«chiral acid salt.

In one embodiment, the process further comprises recrystallizing said (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) - 1, 3-oxathiolane.chiral resolving acid addition salt.

In one embodiment, said chiral acid is in stoichiometric molar ratio with regard cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane .

In one embodiment, said chiral acid is in nonstoichiometric molar ratio with regard to cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 '- yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane.

In one aspect, there is provided a process for producing (-)- cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane comprising: a) reacting cis-2-h.ydroxymetb.yl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane with a half-quantity molar amount of a chiral acid to substantially produce (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane.chiral acid salt, said molar ratio being with regard to cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' - yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane; b) recovering said (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) - 1, 3-oxathiolane.chiral acid salt; c) converting said (-) -cis-2-h.ydroxymeth.yl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) - 1, 3-oxathiolane.chiral acid salt into said (-)-cis-2- hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane .

In one embodiment, said step a) further comprise adding a half- quantity molar amount of achiral acid to substantially produce (+) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1,3-

oxathiolane.achiral acid salt, said molar ratio being with regard to cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane .

In one embodiment, said chiral acid is (lR)-(-)-10- camphorsulfonic acid, ( -) -2 , 3-dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid, (+)-L- tartaric acid or (-)-L-malic acid.

In one embodiment, said chiral acid is (lR)-(-)-10- camphorsulfonic acid.

In one embodiment, said achiral acid is hydrochloric acid.

In a further aspect, there is provided a process for producing crystalline optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 '- yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane, comprising: a) reacting cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane with a chiral acid and an achiral acid to produce substantially one diastereomeric salt and substantially one enantiomeric salt; b) recovering said diastereomeric salt; c) converting said diastereomeric salt into optically active cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl ) -1 , 3-oxathiolane .

An embodiment of the process of the present invention generates an over-all yield equal to or greater than 25% of the desired enantiomer .

An additional embodiment of the process of the present invention generates the desired enantiomer with an enantiomeric excess of 95% or higher.

Another embodiment of the process of the present invention generates an over-all yield equal to or greater than 25% of the desired enantiomer and an enantiomeric excess of 99% or higher.

In one embodiment, said diastereomeric salt is (-)-cis-2- hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10- camphorsulfonate .

In one embodiment, said enantiomeric salt is (+)-cis-2- hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane.hydrochloric acid salt.

An "oxathiolane ring" is any substituted or unsubstituted five member monocyclic ring that has an oxygen atom in position 1 and a sulfur atom in position 3 of the ring as illustrated below:

It will be apparent to a skilled person in the field that the reaction conditions described in these examples may be modified and still achieve successful results.

Typically, solvents, temperature and time of reaction may be varied. A suitable solvent will allow the process to occur under the reaction conditions without adversely affecting the reaction. The solvent may be one or more solvents and may be organic (e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, tetrahydrofuran, hexane, pentane, ether spirit, ethyl ether) , water or aqueous/organic (e.g., methanol-water, isopropanol-water) . The solvents may also be present in various ratios (for example 1:1, 2:1, 5:1, 10:1 or 1:1:1, 1:2:1) .

The temperature may be varied and will allow the process to occur under the reaction conditions . The suitable temperature will provide the desired product without adversely affecting the reaction.

It will be appreciated by a person of skill in the art that a suitable period of time is a time for obtaining a sufficient chemical transformation of the starting material, obtaining the desired purity or the desired yield of the reaction product or

a combination of those. The reaction can typically be monitored, if desired, by thin layer chromatography, light absorption (e.g., U.V. ) of reaction medium, gas chromatography or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) .

Cis-2-Hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane exist as enantiomers which may be in various ratios .

(-) enantiomer (+) enantiomer

For example the enantiomers may be present as racemate (i.e. in equal proportions) or any alternative ratio of the enantiomers such as for example 1:1, 2:1, 5:1, 10:1, 100:1 or 1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 1:100. References hereinafter to cis-2-Hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane according to the invention includes all such possible ratios of enantiomers .

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs . All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

As used in this application, the term "alkyl" represents a straight chain or branched chain hydrocarbon moiety which may optionally be substituted by one or more of halogen, nitro, nitroso, sulfate, sulfate ester, sulfonate, sulfonate ester, phosphonate ester, amide, Ci_6 alkyl, C6-12 aralkyl (e.g., C7- ₁₂

aralkyl) , C ₆ -i2 aryl, C ₁ S alkyloxy, C ₆ -i2 aryloxy, C(O) -Ci_ ₆ alkyl, C(O)-C ₅ -i2 aryl, C(O)C ₆ -i2 aralkyl (e.g., C(O)C ₇ - _I2 aralkyl), heterocycle having 3-10 ring-members , hydroxyl, amino, ester, cyano, azido, amidino or guanido . Useful examples of alkyl include isopropyl, propyl, ethyl, methyl, hexyl Qr cyclopropyl, which in each case is unsubstituted or substituted one or more times by, for example, halogen, nitro, nitroso, sulfate, sulfonate, amide, hydroxyl, amino, ester, cyano, azido, amidino or guanido . The term alkyl is also meant to include alkyl in which one or more hydrogen atoms are each replaced by a halogen, preferably fluoro (e.g., CF ₃ - or CF ₃ CH ₂ -).

The term "aryl" represents a carbocyclic moiety containing at least one benzenoid-type ring which may optionally be substituted by one or more of halogen, nitro, nitroso, sulfate, sulfate ester, sulfonate, sulfonate ester, phosphonate ester, amide, Ci_ ₆ alkyl, C ₆ -i2 aralkyl, C ₆ _ ₁₂ aryl, Ci_ ₆ alkyloxy, C ₆ -i ₂ aryloxy, C(O)-Ci^ ₆ alkyl, C(O)-C ₆ -I ₂ aryl, C(O)C ₆ -I ₂ aralkyl, heterocycle having 3-10 ring-members , hydroxyl, amino, ester, cyano, azido, amidino or guanido. Examples of aryl include phenyl and naphthyl, which in each case is unsubstituted or substituted one or more times by, for example, halogen, nitro, nitroso, sulfate, sulfonate, amide, hydroxyl, amino, ester, cyano, azido, amidino. or guanido.

The term "aralkyl" represents an aryl group attached to the adjacent atom by an alkyl. Useful- examples include benzyl which is unsubstituted or substituted one or more times by, for example, halogen, nitro, nitroso, sulfate, sulfonate, amide, hydroxyl, amino, ester, cyano, azido, amidino or guanido.

The term "heterocycle" represents a saturated or unsaturated, cyclic moiety wherein said cyclic moiety is interrupted by at least one heteroatom, (e.g., oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen) which may optionally be substituted by one or more of halogen, nitro, nitroso, sulfate, sulfate ester, sulfonate, sulfonate ester, phosphonate ester, amide, Ci_ ₆ alkyl, Cβ-i2 aralkyl, C ₆ - _I2 aryl,

Ci-6 alkyloxy, C ₆ -I ₂ aryloxy, C(O) -Ci_ ₆ alkyl , C(O)-C ₆ -I ₂ aryl, C(O)C ₆ - ₁₂ aralkyl, hydroxyl, amino, ester, cyano, azido, amidino or guanido . It is understood that the term heterocyclic ring represents a mono or polycyclic (e.g., bicyclic) ring. Examples of heterocyclic rings include but are not limited to epoxide; furan; benzofuran; isobenzofuran; oxathiolane; dithiolane; dioxolane; pyrrole; pyrrolidine; imidazole; pyridine; pyrimidine; indole; piperidine; morpholine; thiophene and thiomorpholine, which in each case is unsubstituted or substituted one or more times by, for example, halogen, nitro, nitroso, sulfate, sulfonate, amide, hydroxyl, amino, ester, cyano, azido, amidino or guanido.

The term "independently" means that a substituent can be the same or different definition for each item.

The term "optically active" means that the enantiomeric excess is greater than zero.

The optical purity is numerically equivalent to the

"enantiomeric excess". The term "enantiomeric excess" or "ee" is defined in percentage (%) value as follows: [mole fraction (major enantiomer) - mole fraction (minor enantiomer) ] x 100. (for example, an ee of 99% represent a ratio of 99.5% of one enantiomer and 0.5% of the opposite enantiomer).

The term "chiral acid" means an optically active acidic compound able to form a idiastereomer with a compound of formula III, such as 2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin,-l ' -yl) -1 , 3-oxathiolane . Examples of such acids include without limitation: tartaric acid, 0, 0' -dibenzoyltartaric acid, 0, 0' -di-p-toluoyltartaric acid, 2-nitrotartranilic acid, mandelic acid, malic acid, 2- phenoxypropionic acid, 10-camphorsulfonic acid, hydratropic acid, N-acetylleucine, N- (α-methylbenzyl) succinamic acid, N-(Ot- methylbenzyl) phthamic acid, 3-bromocamphor-9-sulfonic acid, camphor-3-sulfonic acid, quinic acid, di-0-isopropylidene-2- oxo-L-gulonic acid, lasalocid, 1, 1 ' -binaphthyl-2 , 2/-phosphoric acid, cholestenonesulfonic acid. Further examples include (IR)-

(-) -10-camphorsulfonic acid, (-) -2, 3-dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid, (+) -L-tartaric acid and (-)-L-malic acid.

A person of ordinary skill will understand that the term "achiral acid" includes a variety of acids such as inorganic acids (e.g., HCl, HBr, H ₂ SO ₄ , HBF ₄ ); sulfonic acids (e.g., methanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, p- hydroxytoluenesulfonic, sulfanilic, p-chlorobenezenesulfonic) ; substituted acetic acids (e.g., glycolic, chloro-, dichloro-, trichloroacetic); polycarboxylic and oxy acids (e.g., succinic, adipic, maleic, fumaric, citric, pyruvic):

There are also provided pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the present invention. By the term "pharmaceutically acceptable salts" is meant salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic and organic acids and bases. Examples of suitable acids include hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulphuric, nitric, perchloric, fumaric, maleic, phosphoric, glycollic, lactic, salicylic, succinic, toleune-p-sulphonic, tartaric, acetic, trifluoroacetic, citric, methanesulphonic, formic, benzoic, malonic, naphthalene-2-sulphonic, cysteic acid and benzenesulphonic acids. Other acids such as oxalic, while not themselves pharmaceutically acceptable, may be useful as intermediates in obtaining the compounds of the invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. Salts derived from appropriate bases include alkali metal (e.g., sodium), alkaline earth metal (e.g., magnesium), ammonium and NR ₄ ⁺ (where R is C _1-4 alkyl) salts.

References hereinafter to a compound according to the invention include the compound and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

Dowex® Marathon A-OH is a mark of DOW Chemical Company.

In one aspect, the present invention provides novel compounds as described in table 1 :

TABLE 1

In one embodiment, the process and method of the present invention comprises those wherein the following embodiments are present, either independently or in combination.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, are hereby incorporated by reference.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are provided to illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and shall not be considered as limiting in scope.

Example 1: Screening of chiral resolving agents

Experimental conditions :

100 mg of cis-2-Hγdroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane is combined with 1 equivalent of the resolving agent, in 1 ml of solvent (95% ethanol- 5% water) . The solid is isolated and weighed. A significant test requires that the weight of crystals does not exceed 50% of the overall diastereomer amount. If this condition is not fulfilled the amount or type of solvent is changed.

TABLE 2

Example 2 : Resolution experimentations

General experimental conditions : cis-2-Hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane, and a chiral acid were dissolved with stirring in a solvent at a temperature of about room temperature to about 50 ⁰ C and then cooled at a temperature of between about room temperature to - 10 ⁰ C for 2-4 hours. The solid product was collected by filtration. The composition was determined by Chiral HPLC, the aqueous buffer was prepared by diluting 0.5 ml triethylamine in IL HPLC water, the pH adjusted to 6.88 with glacial acetic acid, . The mobile phase was prepared by combining the aqueous buffer and methanol in a ratio of 90:10 and the gas was removed. The following conditions were used:

Column: Astec Cyclobond I 2000 RSP, 5 micron, 250 x 4.5 mm. Guard column: Astec Cyclobond I 2000 RSP, 20 x 4.0 mm Flow: 0.6 ml/itiin. Sample preparation: prepare solution of 0.5 mg/ml in mobile phase .

Injection volume: 5 μL. Mode: isocratic. UV-Vis detector at: 270 run. Column temperature: 0 ⁰ C. Run time: 40 min.

TABLE 3

Scheme 1

Example 3: Diastereomeric salt optical resolution of cis-2- Hydroxymethyl-4- (cvtosin-1 ' -yl ) -1 , 3-oxathiolane .

cis-2-Hydroxγmethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane (1.03g, 4.3 mmol), and (IR) - (-) -10-Camphorsulfonic acid (1.03g, ^' 4.3 mmol) were dissolved in 32 mL of a 1:1 isopropyl alcohol and water (v/v) at 50 ⁰ C. The solution was cooled 'at 0 ⁰ C. The solid was filtered to provide 0.55g of dry crystals. The diastereomeric composition was determined by HPLC to be 87:13 [ (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10-camphorsulfonic salt : (+) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10-camphorsulfonic salt) ] .

The mother liquor was concentrated to dryness giving 1.38 g of dry solids with a diastereomeric composition of 35:65 [(-)- cis-2-h.ydroxymeth.yl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) - 10-camphorsulfonic salt : (+ ) -cis^-hydroxymethyl^- (cytosin- l'-yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR)- (-) -10-camphorsulfonic salt)]. The composition was analyzed as shown in Example 2.

Example 4: Recrystallization to increase the diastereomeric ratio of (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10-camphorsulfonic salt with regard to (+)- cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1 , 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - ( -) - 10-Camphorsulfonic salt.

The crude cis-2-h.ydroxymeth.yl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10-camphorsulfonate salt generated in entry 4 of table 3 in example 2 having an enantiomeric ratio of 90.9: 9.1 [ (-)-cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 '-yl) -1,3- oxathiolane. (IR) -(-) -10-camphorsulfonic salt : (+)-cis-2- hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10- camphorsulfonic salt] was dissolved in isopropyl alcohol-water 1:1 (v/v) at 70 ⁰ C. After cooling, the crystals were recovered with a yield of 76% and an enantiomeric ratio of 99.1: 0.9 [ ( -) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1,3- oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10-camphorsulfonic salt : ( +)-ci≤-2- hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10- camphorsulfonic salt] .

Example 5 : Kilogram-scale Diastereomeric salt optical resolution

A mixture of isopropanol (2274 kg), distilled water (2905 kg), cis-2-Hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane (193.7 kg) were introduced into the reactor (model RO6 5700L GLMS) . Dilute hydrochloric acid (prepared as 41.57 kg in 380 kg of water) was introduced followed by (IR) -(-) -10-camphorsulfonic acid (100 kg) . The temperature of the resulting slurry was adjusted to 50' ⁰ C and agitated until all solid dissolved. The solution was then cooled to about -10 ⁰ C (-13 ⁰ C to -7 ⁰ C) and agitated for 4-6 hours.

The resulting slurry is filtered, rinsing forward with 60 L of 1:1 isopropyl alcohol and water (v/v) . The product is pulled dry with enantiomeric ratio of 91:9 [ (-) -cis-2-hydroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10-camphorsulfonic

salt : (+) -cis^-hydroxymethyl-^.- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3- oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -10-camphorsulfonic salt)] .

Isopropanol (228 kg) and water (291 kg) are added to the wet crude product then the temperature of the resulting solution was adjusted to 7O ⁰ C and agitated until all solid dissolved the slurry is heated and agitated until all the solids dissolve. The solution is then cooled to about 22°C (19°C to 25°C) and then to 0 ⁰ C (-3 ⁰ C to 3°C) .

The resulting slurry is filtered, rinsing forward with two portions of 70 L of 1:1 isopropyl alcohol and water (v/v) . The product is spin-dried until the flow of filtrate essentially stops. 90.8 kg of product recovered (87% yield, corrected for loss on dryness of a sample) with an enantiomeric purity higher than 98%.

Scheme 2

Example 6: flR) - (-) -10-camphorsulfonic acid removal from (-)- cis-2-hvdroxymethyl-4- (cytosin-1 ' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - ( -) - 10-camphorsulfonic salt

(-) -cis^-hydroxymethyl^- (cytosin-1' -yl) -1, 3-oxathiolane. (IR) - (-) -lO-Camphorsulfonic salt (90.8 kg) is dissolved in methanol (601 kg) by heating the mixture at 40 ⁰ C and agitating until a solution is achieved.

The warm solution is circulated through an ion exchange column containing Dowex® Marathon A-OH (133.6 kg) and methanol (200 kg) of while maintaining the temperature at 4O ⁰ C until no residual camphorsulfonic acid is detected by NMR analysis and pH is greater than 7 (measured using water-wet pH paper) .

The eluent is filtered, rinsing forward with methanol (200 kg) .

The filtrate is partially concentrated under vacuum to about 140L.

The concentrate is cooled to about -10 ⁰ C for one hour and agitated. The resulting slurry is filtered, rinsing forward with 2 portions of 18 kg of cold methanol (-10 ⁰ C) . The product is dried under vacuum while heating to 35-4O ⁰ C.

The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically or specifically described reactants and/or operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding examples .

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions .