Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of Cannabidiol.

Background of the invention

Cannabidiol (CBD), of formula (1), the major non-psycotropic phytocannabinoid in most cannabis preparations, has been found to have antiepileptic, anti-anxiety and antidystonia properties in man.

Cannabis sativa is currently the most used source of CBD, but the prospect of rapid growth of CBD demand makes the direct synthesis of CBD desirable. The most efficient routes to CBD synthesis are the condensation between (+)-p-mentha-diene-l-ol of formula

(2):

with olivetol of formula (3) and the condensation of (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol of formula (4):

with olivetol (3)

in the presence of acids such as trifluoroacetic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, hydrochloric acid, BF3-etherate (BF ₃ -Et ₂ 0) or weak acids, as disclosed in Lago-Femandez et al. Methods in enzymology, Vol. 593, 237-257 (2017).

Such approaches lead to the formation of considerable amounts of two undesired products, the unnatural CBD isomer (abnormal-CBD) of formula (5):

Abnormal-CBD (5)

and the psychotropic phytocannabinoid A ^y -tctrahydrocannabinol (THC) of formula

(6). The formation of amounts of THC above legal limits, which vary from country to country and the fact that THC has been associated with acute psychosis, make CBD production by chemical synthesis complicated from the regulatory standpoint.

Moreover, due to lack of selectivity, the available synthetic routes provide yields of

CBD that are too low for industrial application. As a mere title of example, Petrzilka et al. [Helvetica Chimica Acta, 52, 4, (1969), 123, 1102] reported yields of CBD around 20%.

The problem of THC formation had been already investigated by Baek, S. et al. (Tetrahedron Letters, Vol.26, No. 8, pp 1083-1086, 1985), who discovered that reacting (+)-p-mentha-diene-l-ol (2) with olivetol (3) in the presence of BFs-EfeO supported on alumina or silica could reduce the formation of THC and, at the same time, improve the CBD yield up to a molar yield of 55%. When the same conditions were applied to (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol (2) and olivetol (3) (Lumir et al, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2005, 3, 1116 - 1123), the yield of CBD dropped to 44%, but still with no formation of THC. In 1993, Baek S. et al. (Bull. Korean Chem. Soc., Vol. 14, No. 2, 1993) found it suitable to use BF ₃ -Et ₂ 0 supported on alumina for the preparation of Olivetols, reporting that, in the absence of alumina the reactions yields were lower due to cyclization reactions. On the other hand, the use of BFs-EhzO supported on alumina, which is not commercially available, impairs the process for the production of CBD for several reasons: 1) it needs to be prepared in situ before the reaction, 2) the environmental E-factor (total waste/product ratio) is increased due to the use of a ten-fold excess of alumina compared to the actual catalyst (BF ₃ - Et ₂ 0) and 3) it cannot be recycled.

Therefore, the need is still felt for a method for the synthesis of CBD that allows to overcome the above drawbacks and, at the same time, allows to reduce the formation of THC.

On the other hand, the use of continuous flow reactors, in particular micro-reactors, in the chemical industry has greatly increased in recently years, thanks to their high heat transfer capacity, high mixing rates and their operating flexibility.

Description of the invention

The Applicant has surprisingly found out that, when the reaction between (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol (4) with olivetol (3) is carried out in a continuous flow reactor in the presence of a non-supported Lewis acid as catalyst, CBD is obtained with molar 34% yield and no formation of THC. Even more surprisingly, when esters of (+)-p-mentha- diene-3-ol (4), in particular the acetyl ester of formula (7) [(+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol acetate] :

and olivetol (3) are reacted with a non-supported Lewis acid in a continuous flow reactor, a yield of 51 % is obtained.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of CBD, which comprises the following steps:

a) contacting a solution of (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol (4) or an ester thereof and olivetol (3) [solution (SI)] and a solution of a non-supported Lewis acid [solution (S2)] in a continuous flow reactor to obtain a first mixture [mixture (Ml)] comprising CBD; and b) contacting mixture (Ml) with a basic solution [solution (S3)] to obtain a second mixture [mixture (M2)]; c) separating CBD from mixture (M2).

For the purpose of the present invention:

the expression “continuous flow reactor” refers to an elongated tube for carrying a reagent stream, said tube having a cross-sectional dimension sufficiently small to allow for highly efficient heat transfer with its surroundings and sufficient length to achieve a desired residence time for a reagent stream. Typically, the cross sectional dimension of the tube ranges between 0.2 mm and 1 cm, while the length ranges between 10 cm to 30,000 cm. Suitable micro -reactors for carrying out the process of the invention are manufactured by Sigma Aldrich. The expression“reagent stream” refers to a mixture of reagents, solutions, and reaction components including reactants and products that flows through a reactor’s tube;

unless indicated otherwise, general terms and expressions include all and each preferred terms and expressions indicated in the description as referring back or falling within those general terms and expressions;

a Lewis acid is a compound or ionic species having an empty orbital which can accept an electron pair from a donor compound; a suitable Lewis acid for carrying out the invention is BF3; more preferably, BF3 is used in the form of BF ₃ -Et ₂ 0;

the expression“non-supported Lewis acid” means that the Lewis acid is not affixed to any other solid support, like silica and alumina, aimed at maximizing the catalyst’s surface area

when ranges are indicated, range ends are included.

In step a) of the process of the invention, solution (SI) and solution (S2) are pumped simultaneously by a first and a second pump of the reactor through a connector to a coil, in which they react and form mixture (Ml).

Solution (SI) is comprised of (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol (4) or an ester thereof, preferably an ester with a straight or branched carboxylic acid having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, more preferably the ester with acetic acid (acetic ester) (7) and olivetol (3), in a 1 : 1 to 1 :2 molar ratio, preferably a 1 : 1 molar ratio, and an organic solvent, selected among C1-C3 chlorinated solvents, preferably dichloromethane, ethereal solvent preferably methyl tert butyl ether, alkyl esters preferably ethyl acetate, wherein each the concentration of each solute ranges between 0.5 M and 0.01 M, and is preferably 0.05 M, while solution (S2) is comprised of a Lewis acid, preferably BF3, more preferably BF3-etherate, and an organic solvent, which can be the same as or different from the solvent comprised in solution (SI). Preferably, solutions (SI) and (S2) comprise the same solvent, which is preferably dichloromethane. The concentration of the Lewis acid in solution (S2) ranges from 0.05 M to 0.001 M and is preferably 0.005 M. Solutions (SI) and (S2) are each pumped at a flow rate ranging from 0.1 to 1 mL/min, preferably 0.9 to 1.1 mL/min, more preferably 1 mL/min.

The reaction temperature varies from -20°C to 40°C and is preferably 20°C.

When (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol (4) is used, the residence time of mixture (Ml) in the micro-reactor varies from 1 minutes to 15 minutes and is preferably 8 minutes. When an ester of (4) is used, in particular when (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol acetate (7) is used, the residence time of mixture (Ml) in the microreactor varies from 1 minutes to 10 minutes and is preferably 7 minutes.

In step b), the contact between mixture (Ml) and solution (S3) can be accomplished by quenching mixture (Ml) streaming out of the reactor outlet in solution (S3) contained in a vessel. Alternatively, mixture (Ml) can be conveyed to another continuous flow reactor along with solution (S3). Solution (S3) is typically an alkali metal bicarbonate aqueous solution or an alkali metal carbonate aqueous solution, preferably a sodium or potassium bicarbonate aqueous solution, more preferably a sodium bicarbonate aqueous solution. The concentration of alkali metal bicarbonate or carbonate in solution (S3) typically ranges from 1 to 30% w/w preferably, solution (S3) is saturated in the alkali metal bicarbonate salt. “Saturated” means containing the maximum amount of bicarbonate or carbonate at room pressure and temperature.

Step c) can be carried out according to methods known in the art. Typically, isolation is achieved by column chromatography. The invention is illustrated in greater detail in the following experimental section.

EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

Materials

(+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol (4) was obtained according to R. Marin Barrios et al. Tetrahedron 2012, 68, 1105-1108.

Olivetol (3) was obtained from Sigma Aldrich.

(+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol acetate (7) was obtained according to Prasav and Dav, Tetrahedron 1976, 32, 1437-1441.

Dichloromethane and sodium bicarbonate were obtained from Sigma Aldrich.

Methods

All exemplary synthesis reported below were carried out using a Bohlender™ PTFE tube (I.D. 0.8 mm, 16.91 m) purchased from Sigma Aldrich.

The analysis of CBD was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) according to Gambaro et al. Analytica Chimica Acta 468 (2002) 245-254.

Synthesis examples

Example 1 - Synthesis of CBD from (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol (4) and Olivetol (3)

A solution (SI) of 0.05 M of (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol (4) and 0.05 M of Olivetol (3) in dichloromethane (10 mL) and a solution (S2) of BF3-etherate 0.005 M (10 mol %) in dichloromethane (10 mL) were simultaneously pumped with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min for each pump into a T-connector before passing through a 8.5 mL reactor coil maintained at 20°C. The outflow was directly quenched with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate (100 mL). No traces of THC were detected and CBD was isolated by column chromatography with a recovery yield of 34% mol.

Example 2 - Synthesis of CBD from (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol acetate (7) and

Olivetol (3)

A solution of 0.05 M of (+)-p-mentha-diene-3-ol acetate (7) and 0.1 M of Olivetol (3) in dichloromethane (10 mL) and a solution of BL3-etherate 0.005 M (10 mol %) in dichloromethane (10 mL) were simultaneously pumped with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min for each pump into a T-connector before passing through a 8.5 mL reactor coil maintained at 20°C. The outflow was directly quenched with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate (100 mL). No traces of THC were detected and CBD was isolated with a recovery yield of 51 % mol.