The present invention relates to a process for preparing tamsulosin (compound I) and its pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, such as the hydrochloride; and to new intermediate compounds.

Background of the invention

Tamsulosin hydrochloride is a selective OJ ₁ adrenergic antagonist that has been shown to improve symptoms and urinary flow rate in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Commercially marketed product is a hydrochloride salt of the (R) enantiomer of tamsulosin.

Field of the invention This invention relates to a convenient and improved process for the preparation of 5-{(2R)-2-[2- (2-ethoxy-phenoxy)-ethylamino]-propyl}-2-methoxy-benzenesulf onamide known as tamsulosin, of formula I, and pharmaceutical acceptable addition salts thereof.

The present invention also relates to improved and convenient processes for the preparation of four new compounds of formulas DI, IV, VI and VDI.

vni

Prior art

EP034432 and US 4,373,106 disclose the preparation of racemic tamsulosin by two processes:

1) "Process A" comprises the condensation of the ketone of formula A with the amine of formula B followed by reduction of the intermediate Schiff base formed.

B

2) "Process B" describes a process that goes through a hydroxyl and a chloro-analogue intermediates followed by reduction of the chloro analogue intermediate, according to the following sequence:

Racemic tamsulosin

The above processes have the disadvantage that they need further resolution of the racemic product to obtain the desired more active R(-) tamsulosin. Processes for this difficult resolution of the racemic mixture are described, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication N ⁰ 10665, in WO03/037850 and in WO2004/006829.

US 4, 731,478, US 4, 761,500 and US 5,447,958 in addition to the two processes above mentioned for the preparation of racemic tamsulosin disclose a process for the preparation of both optically pure enantiomers of tamsulosin.

The process comprises the preparation of any of the two optically pure 5-(2-amino-propyl)-2- methoxy-benzenesulphonamide enantiomers followed by reaction with 2-(o-ethoxy-phenoxy)

ethyl bromide compound of formula D to form the corresponding (R) and (S) tamsulosin. The process for the preparation of the R(-) tamsulosin isomer is illustrated in the following scheme:

R(-) Tamsulosin

This process has the disadvantage that the starting compound (2R)-2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-l- methyl-ethylamine is a known hallucinogenic substance, handling of which is undesirable.

EP257787 and its divisional EP380144 disclose:

1) An alternative process for the preparation, among others, of the pure optically amine of formula C

according to the following scheme:

T) The process for the preparation of R(-) tamsulosin via coupling pure amine C with the bromide D.

D

This process requires a chromatographic purification in a silica gel column.

WO 02/068382 discloses the preparation of R(-) tamsulosin via reduction of the related intermediate E of the optically pure amine C, according to the following scheme.

THF/LiAlR,

R(-)Tamsulosin

We have now devised an improved process for the preparation of tamsulosin, which process overcomes or substantially minimises the problems associated with the prior art processes.

According to the present invention, there is provided a process for producing 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2- ethoxy-phenoxy)-ethylamino]-propyl}-2-methoxy-benzenesulfona mide of formula I

I and pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts thereof, which process comprises the steps:

Step a) Reacting compound R,R-[2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-l-methyl-ethyl]-(l-phenyl-ethyl)- amine of formula II or a salt thereof

II with chlorosulfonic acid with or without an organic solvent, to obtain compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(l -phenyl-ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IH

III

Step b) Hydrogenolysis of compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(l-phenyl-ethylamino)- propyl]- benzenesulfonic acid of formula HI or a salt thereof carried out in an alcohol in the presence of a palladium catalyst using hydrogen or a source of hydrogen, to obtain compound R-(-)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV

IV

Step c) Reacting primary amine R-(-)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV, or a salt thereof, with a compound of formula V

wherein X represents an halogen atom selected from the group consisting of Cl; Br and I, to obtain 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)-ethylamino]-propyl}-2-methox y- benzenesulfonic acid compound of formula VI

VI

Step d) Reacting compound of formula VI with a halogenating agent, to obtain the corresponding sulfonylchloride of formula VIE

VII

Step e) Reacting compound of formula VII with ammonia to obtain compound I. The invention also provides the intermediate compounds R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(l-phenyl- ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula HI; R-(-)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy- benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV; 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)ethylamino]-propyl}-2- methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula VI; S-(+)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy- benzenesulfonic acid of formula VIH.

hi a further aspect, the invention provides the use of the above intermediate compounds for preparing tamsulosin or a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt thereof.

Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising tamsulosin or a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt thereof made according to the process of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

The invention also provides processes for making the new intermediate compounds of the invention, of formulas El, IV, VI and VEH, as defined below.

Compounds of formulas III, IV and VI are key intermediates for the preparation of compound I.

Compound III can be prepared by reacting compound R ₅ R- [2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-l -methyl- ethyl] -(I -phenyl-ethyl)-amine of formula II or a salt thereof with an excess of chlorosulfonic acid with or without a solvent.

Compound IV can be prepared by hydrogenolysis of compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(l-phenyl- ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula HI or a salt thereof in the presence of a palladium catalyst using hydrogen or a source of hydrogen.

Compound VI can be prepared by condensing compound R-(-)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy- benzenesulfonic acid formula IV with an halide compound of formula V

wherein X represents a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I.

Step (a) preferably comprises reacting compound R,R-[2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-l-methyl-ethyl]- (l-phenyl-ethyl)-amine of formula II or a salt thereof, with an excess of chlorosulfonic acid with or without an organic solvent at a temperature from -30 ⁰ C to 10 ⁰ C to obtain the new compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(l-phenyl-ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulf onic acid of formula III.

For step (a), suitable organic solvents include dichloromethane, monochlorobenzene and 1,2- dichloroethane.

Preferred reaction conditions for step (a) include (i) carrying out the reaction with an excess from 2.0 to 3.5 equivalents of chlorosulfonic acid (ii) using dichloromethane and (iii) using a temperature from -1O ⁰ C to 1O ⁰ C. Preferably, all three features are employed.

The preparation of the starting compound R,R-[2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-l-methyl-ethyl]-(l- phenyl- ethyl)-amine of formula π, is disclosed in US 4,000,197.

Another embodiment of the present invention is providing an improved and simplified process for the preparation of the starting compound of formula π, which process comprises reacting under mild conditions, p-methoxyphenyl acetone with R-(+)-l -phenyl ethyl amine in an organic solvent, such as methanol or ethanol in the presence of hydrogen and a platinium catalyst. The compound of formula II can be isolated as an addition salt with inorganic or organic acid and is recrystallized in order to achieve the chiral purity required, preferably from acetone or a

mixture of acetone and methyl-tert-butyl-ether (MTBE). A parti culary convenient salt of compound II is the hydrochloride salt.

Step (b) preferably comprises hydrogenolysis of compound R, R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(l-phenyl- ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula III or a salt thereof in a lower alcohol of 1-3 carbon atoms at a temperature from 3O ⁰ C to 65°C in the presence of a palladium catalyst using hydrogen or a source of hydrogen, to yield R-(-)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy- benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV.

In step (b), suitable sources of hydrogen include: ammonium formate, cyclohexene or sodium tetrahydroborate, preferably ammonium formate.

Suitable solvents include methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or a mixture of two of more thereof, preferably methanol or ethanol.

Palladium catalysts include Pd/C, preferably PdVC 5%.

The reaction is suitably carried out at a temperature of from 3O ⁰ C to 65 ⁰ C, preferably from 5O ⁰ C to 6O ⁰ C.

Crystallization of the crude product, for example from ethanol, yields the required purity of compound IV.

The hydrogenolysis conditions of the present invention provide a clean and fast reaction to produce the new compound IV.

Step (c) preferably comprises condensation of compound R-(-)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy- benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV with 2-(o-ethoxyphenoxy)-ethyl halide of formula V in which X represents an halogen atom selected from the group consisting of Cl; Br and I, in an

organic solvent, at a temperature from 25 ⁰ C to HO ⁰ C, in the presence of a base to obtain 5- {(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)ethylamino]-propyl} -2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula VI.

Suitable solvents for step (c) of the present invention include ethanol, dimethylformamide and water or a mixture thereof, preferably a mixture of dimethylformamide and water.

The compound IV is preferably used in a slight molar excess of from 1.0 to 1.2 moles per mole of halide compound V. Preferably, this is carried out in the presence of an excess of a carbonate or a hydrogen carbonate of an alkali metal.

The preferred base is potassium carbonate and the preferred molar ratio is 4.5 to 5.0 moles of potassium carbonate per mole of halide compound V.

The reaction is suitably carried out at a temperature of from 25 ⁰ C to 110 ⁰ C, preferably from

75°C to 9O ⁰ C.

The conditions of step (c) according to the present invention have the following advantages: practically no molar excess of the expensive amine of formula IV is necessary to complete the condensation; in addition, in contrast to the prior art the use of column chromatography is not necessary to purify the product.

Step (d) preferably comprises reacting compound 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)- ethylamino] -propyl} -2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula VI with a halogenating agent, in an organic solvent at a temperature from -3O ⁰ C to O ⁰ C to obtain the corresponding sulfonylchloride, a new compound of formula VII.

The preferred halogenating agent is thionyl chloride.

The halogenating agent can be used as solvent, but the preferred conditions of the present invention are using thionyl chloride in a slight excess in an organic solvent. This affords a cleaner reaction in addition to being safer and more environmentally friendly.

Preferred organic solvents for the reaction include dimethylformamide and dichloromethane, most preferably a mixture of dimethylformamide and dichloromethane.

The reaction can suitably be carried out at from -30°C to 0°C, but most preferably the halogenation reaction of the invention is carried out at from -5 ⁰ C to 0 ⁰ C.

Step (e) preferably comprises reacting the sulfonyl chloride compound of formula VII with ammonia in an organic solvent, at a temperature from 0° to 30 ⁰ C to obtain tamsulosin, compound of formula I.

The preferred organic solvent for step (e) of the present invention is tetrahydrofuran.

The reaction is preferably carried out at a temperature from O ⁰ C to 3O ⁰ C, more preferably at

The tamsulosin base obtained can, for example, be converted into its hydrochloride salt by adding an ethanolic hydrochloric acid solution to the tamsulosin base solution in ethanol.

Another embodiment of the invention is the preparation of the new compound S-(+)-5-(2- amino-propyl)-2-rnethoxy-benzenesulfonic acid formula VHI or an addition salt thereof,

VIII Compound VIH can, for example, be prepared by following the same procedure described above to prepare compound R-(-)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV, but starting from p-methoxyphenylacetone and S-(-)-phenyl ethylamine instead of R-(+)- phenyl ethylamine.

Acid addition salts of compounds π, DI, IV, VI, VII and VHI may be prepared by methods known in the art. For example, the base is reacted with an excess of acid in a water miscible solvent such as ethanol, methanol or acetone.

The following examples serve to illustrate the present invention and certain preferred embodiments thereof. EXAMPLE 1 R,R-[ ^' 2-(4-methoxy-phenylVl-methyl-ethyl]-( ^' l-phenyl-ethyD-amine (formula IT)

To a methanol solution of p-methoxyphenylacetone (34 g, 0.207 mol) was added R-(+)-phenyl ethylamine (26.1 ml, 0.205 mol). The solution was stirred until homogeneous and then there was added 0.75 g of a platinium oxide catalyst.

The mixture was hydrogenated at a pressure of 2 bar and at a temperature of 5O ⁰ C for 12 hours.

At the end of this period, the catalyst was filtered and the filtrate evaporated until oil was obtained. To this oil, 119 ml of ethanolic hydrogen chloride was added, and the mixture stirred for 3 hours at room temperature.

Ethanol was evaporated and to the oil obtained was added 300 ml of a mixture of acetone:

MTBE (9:4)v/v.

The solid was filtered, washed with acetone, and dried, yielding 30 g of R,R-[2-(4-mefhoxy- phenyl)-l-methyl-ethyl]-(l-phenyl-ethyl)-amine hydrochloride after crystallization and with a purity of 96.2% in area by HPLC.

EXAMPLE 2

R,R-2-memoxy-5-[2-(l-phenyl-ethylamino ^* )-propyl ^' |-benzenesulfom ^' c acid (formula HI)

To a suspension of R,R-[2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-l-methyl-ethyl]-(l-phenyl-ethyl)-a mine hydrochloride (21 g, 0.0688 mol) in dichloromethane, cooled at 5°C, was added drop wise chlorosulfonic acid (14.7 ml, 0.22 mol).

The resulting solution was stirred at -5°C/5°C for 2 hours. At the end of this period 56 ml of ethanol was added to destroy the excess of chlorosulfonic acid maintaining the temperature at -

5°C/5°C.

Dichloromethane was removed by evaporation under vacuum. The reaction mixture is poured into 500 ml of water. The product precipitates and is filtered and washed with water and dried, yielding 23 g of the title compound with a purity of 95% in area determined by HPLC.

EXAMPLE 3

R-(-V5-(2-amino-propylV2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid (formula TV)

To a suspension of R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(l-phenyl-ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulf onic acid

(20 g, 0.0572 mol) in methanol was added, carefully, 20 g of wet 5% Pd/C (0.5 g Pd), and ammonium formate (18 g, 0.285 mol).

The resulting mixture was stirred at 5O ⁰ C/ 6O ⁰ C.

When reaction is completed water (110 ml) was added and reaction mixture is stirred 1 hour at room temperature.

The catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate evaporated until oil was obtained. The product is crystallized from ethanol, filtered and dried, yielding 13.2 g of the title compound with a purity of 97% in area, by HPLC.

EXAMPLE 4

5- {(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)ethylamino ^" l -propyl) -2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid

(formula VI)

To a suspension of R-(-)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid (10 g, 0.0409 mol) in dimethylformamide and water at 95°C/100°C was added 2-(O-ethoxy- phenoxy)ethylbromide (10 g, 0.0408 mol) and potassium carbonate (25 g, 0.1809 mol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 95°C/100°C until reaction is completed. When reaction is completed the suspension is filtered off and to the filtrate 38 ml of ethanolic hydrogen chloride was added. The mixture stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. After this agitation time 90 ml of MTBE was added. The solid was filtered, washed with MTBE, dried, yielding 13.7 g of 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy- phenoxy)ethylamino]-propyl}-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid hydrochloride with a purity of 97.9% in area by HPLC.

EXAMPLE 5

5 -{(2IQ -2-r2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)-ethylamino]-propyl>-2-methoxyben zenesulfonamide

(formula I)

To a suspension of 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2-emoxy-phenoxy)ethylamino]-propyl}-2-methoxy- benzenesulfonic acid (3 g, 0.0073 mol) in dichloromethane and dimethylformamide in an inert atmosphere and cooled at 0°C/-5°C, was added 1.35 ml of thionyl chloride.

The resulting suspension was stirred at -5°C/0°C until reaction is completed. When reaction is completed the suspension was added to a mixture of water/ice and dichloromethane.

Organic phase is separated and evaporated, with vacuum, until oil was obtained.

To the oil obtained THF and ammonium was added and animation reaction takes place.

When reaction is completed water and dichloromethane was added and organic phase is separated.

Dichloromethane is evaporated with vacuum until oil is obtained and with the addition of an ethanolic hydrogen chloride solution tamsulosin hydrochloride precipitates.

The suspension was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature and the solid was filtered and dried.

After recrystallization from ethanol we obtain 5-{(2R) -2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)-ethylamino]- propyl}-2-methoxybenzenesulfonamide hydrochloride with a purity of 98.8% in area by HPLC. Chiral purity of the final product complies with the specification.

Tamsulosin optical purity and salts thereof are determined by HPLC on a chiral column.