Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the use of chloroacetyl chloride as an alternative or substitute reagent for acetoxyacetylchloride in the synthesis of Ioversol.

Background of the Invention Ioversol is disclosed as a useful nonionic x-ray contrast agent in U.S. Patent No. 4,396,598. 5-acetoxy- acetamido-N,N'-bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodo- isophthalamide having the following structure:

FORMULA I

is an intermediate compound in the production of Ioversol. The compound of Formula I and its use in the production of ioversol is likewise disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,396,598 incorporated herein by reference. 5-acetoxyacetamido-N,N'- bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,396,598, may be produced by adding acetoxyacetylchloride (AAC) to a N,N-dimethyl- acetamide solution of a compound of the following structure:

FORMULA II

and stirring until the reaction is complete. The reaction mixture is then diluted with 1,1,2-trichloroethane and extracted with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solutions and aqueous sodium chloride solutions.

The dilution procedure using 1,1,2-trichloro- ethane may alternatively be carried out using an organic solvent such as, but not limited to, carbon tetrachloride, dichloro ethane, chloroform, 1,2-di-chloroethane, 1,1,2- trichloroethylene, 1,1,2-trichloro-ethane, 1,1,1- trichloroethane and tetrachloroethylene, but most preferably 1,1,2-trichloroethane.

The procedure for producing 5-acetoxyacetamido-

N,N'-bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-2, ,6-triiodoisophthalamide has become well known in the art and heretofore required the use of acetoxyacetyl chloride (AAC) for the intermediate synthetic step just described.

An improved procedure that eliminates the need for acetoxyacetyl chloride (AAC) in the intermediate synthetic step used to produce 5-acetoxyacetamido-N,N-'- bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide is desired as an alternate and/or a more cost efficient method

of producing Ioversol. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to meet these needs.

Summary of the Invention One method of producing ioversol without the use of acetoxyacetylchloride (AAC) begins with a solvent solution of 5-amino-N,N'-bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6- triiodoisophthal-amide(l) . Compound l may be prepared for use in this reaction by distilling off some of the solvent to remove and/or reduce impurities, or alternatively, the solvent solution may be used directly without distillation. N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) and chloroacetyl-chloride (CAC), which is an impurity found in AAC, are then added to the 5-amino-N,N ^/ -bis(2 , 3-diacetoxypropyl)-2 , 4 ,6- triiodoisophthalamide(l) and the solution is stirred at 37"c until the reaction is complete. Hydrochloric acid is produced as a waste product of this reaction. The DMAC present in the solution is mildly basic and thereby reacts with the hydrochloric acid generated to form a DMAC complex. After dilution with an organic solvent, the reaction solution is extracted with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solutions and aqueous sodium chloride solutions. The resulting 5-(chloroacetamido)-N,N'- bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide(2)may be used without further purification as an intermediate in the production of N,N'-bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-5-[N-(2- hydroxyethyl)glycolamido]-2,4 ,6-triiodoisophthalamide (Ioversol)(4) according to the reactions illustrated in Scheme 1 below. The final product, ioversol (4), produced through the use of CAC has an equivalent purity, approximately 95%, as that produced through the use of the more costly solvent AAC.

SCHEME 1

CAC - Chloroacetylchloride DMAC = N, N-dimethylacetamide TCE = 1,1,2-trichloroethane DMSO = Dimethylsulf oxide

Another method of producing ioversol using chloroacetylchloride (CAC) instead of acetoxyacetylchloride (AAC) uses dried 5-amino-N,N'bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)- 2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide(5) which normally serves as a precursor to 5-amino-N,N'bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6- triiodoisophthalamide(l) in the ioversol process. Therefore, this particular method eliminates one step, the production of 5-amino-N,N'-bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6- triiodoisophthalamide(l) , in the production of ioversol(4). This step-saving method begins by adding N,N-dimethyl¬ acetamide (DMAC) and chloroacetylchloride (CAC) to 5-amino- N, '-bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl) -2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide (5) and stirring until the reaction is complete. (4- dimethyl-aminopyridine (DMAP) may also be used as a catalyst and added to compound (5) along with the DMAC and CAC although it is not necessary.) Hydrochloric acid is produced as a waste product of this reaction. After dilution with an organic solvent, the reaction solution is extracted with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solutions and aqueous sodium chloride solutions. The resulting pentachloro-derivative of 5-acetoxyacetamido-N,N'-bis(2,3- diacetoxypropyl)-2 ,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide(6) may be used without further purification in the production of N,N'- bis(2,3-dihydroxy-propyl)-5-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycol- amido]-2,4,6-triiodo-isophthalamide (Ioversol) (4) according to the reactions illustrated in Scheme 2 below.

SCHEME 2

CAC = Chloroacetylchloride DMAC = N,N-dimethylacetamide DMAP = 4-dimethylaminopyridine DMSO = Dimethylsulfoxide

Both of the above-described processes have the advantage of eliminating the need for acetoxyacetyl chloride in the intermediate synthetic steps used in the production of N,N'-bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-5-[N-(2- hydroxyethyl)glycolamido]-2,4 ,6-triiodoisophthalamide

(Ioversol). Elimination of acetoxyacetyl chloride and substitution with chloroacetylchloride (CAC) is important to reduce the costs of production, to decrease impurities and to provide alternative routes of production for N,N'- bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-5-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)- glycolamido]-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide(4) . Additionally, the need for acetic anahydride is likewise eliminated through the process illustrated in Scheme 2 which reduces the cost of production even further.

Detailed Description of the Invention

5-chloroacetamido-N,N'-bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)- 2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide(2) may be prepared according to the present invention by first distilling off some of the solvents from 5-amino-N,N ^, -bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6- triiodoisophthalamide(l) to reduce and/or remove any solvent impurities therefrom. This distillation of solvent(s) from compound 1 is optional. N,N-Dimethyl- acetamide (DMAC) and chloroacetylchloride (CAC), an impurity found in AAC, are then added to the previously distilled solution and stirred until the acylation reaction is complete. The solution which is highy viscous is then diluted to improve fluidity, and thereby ease workability, with an organic solvent such as for example toluene, a halocarbon solvent or a chlorocarbon solvent. Examples of such solvents include but are not limited to carbon tetrachloride, dichloro ethane, chloroform., 1,2- dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethylene, 1,1,2-dichloro- ethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and tetrachloroethylene, but preferably 1,1,2-trichloroethane.

After dilution, the solvent is extracted with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solutions (preferably containing approximately 10-15% sodium bicarbonate) and/or aqueous sodium chloride solutions (preferably containing approximately 10-15% sodium chloride). This usually results in a mixture of 5-chloroacetamido-N,N'-bis(2,3- diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide(2) in 1,1,2- trichloroethane at approximately 25 to 30 percent solids. The resulting 5-chloroacetamido-N,N'-bis(2,3-diacetoxy- propyl)-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide(2) may be used as an intermediate to produce N,N ^, -bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-5-[N- (2-hydroxyethyl)glycolamido]-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide (Ioversol)(4) as illustrated in Scheme 1 above. The same is true for the production of N,N'-bis(2,3-dihydroxy- propyl)-5-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycolamido]-2,4,6-triiodo- isophthalamide (Ioversol)(4) from 5-amino-N,N'-bis(2,3- dihydroxypropyl)-2, ,6-triiodoisophthalamide(5) stirred with chloroacetylchloride (CAC), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) and optionally 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) . This reaction is likewise illustrated in Scheme 2 above.

The present invention as described above is further illustrated by the following examples, but is not intended to be limited thereby.

Example 1:

The Preparation of 5-chloroacetamido-N,N -bis- f2,3-diacetoxypropyl -2 , ,6-triiodoisophthalamide

A solution of 5-amino-N,N'-bis(2,3-diacetoxypropyl)-

2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide (69.8 g) in 1,1,2-trichloro- ethane was prepared (total volume 177 ml). N,N-dimethyl- acetamide (DMAC) (17.4 ml) and chloroacetyl chloride (CAC)

(18.1 g) were added to the reaction flask and the reaction

was stirred until the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was then diluted by approximately a factor of 3 with 1,1,2-trichloroethane (82 ml) and extracted with aqueous approximately 10% sodium bicarbonate solutions (313 ml:31 g NaHC0 ₃ ) and aqueous approximately 10% sodium chloride solutions (145 ml:14.5 g NaCl). The resulting solution of 5-chloroacetamido-N ,N' -bis ( 2 , 3- diacetoxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide(2) is used as an intermediate in the production of ioversol without further purification.

Example 2:

The Preparation of 5-chloroacetamido-N.N-bisr2.3- di(chloroacetoxypropyl ) 1-2.4.6-triiodoisophthalamide

N,N-dimethylacetamide (75.2 ml), 4-dimethylamino- pyridine (.005 g moles, 0.61 g) and granular 5-amino-N,N- bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide (0.1 g mole, 70.5 g) are placed into a 500 ml, 3-necked round bottomed flask. The mixture is stirred and heated to approximately 55 ^C C to dissolve the solids. Chloroacetyl- chloride (0.55 g mole, 62.1 g) is added slowly with stirring and the reaction temperature is controlled at 50- 70°C. After completing the addition, the reaction solution is allowed to stir at approximately 60 ^β C to complete the reaction, approximately 3 hr.

After the reaction is completed, 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCE) is added (approximately 152 ml) diluting the solution by approximately a factor of 3 and the solution is stirred and cooled to approximately 20°C. Stirring and cooling are continued and aqueous sodium carbonate solution (approximately 0.6 moles, 52 g in a 13% w/v solution is

slowly added to the stirred TCE solution at a rate which will maintain the temperature at less than 27°C. After stirring for 30 minutes, the reaction mixture containing TCE, DMAC, CAC, 5-amino-N,N-bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-2,4,6- triiodoisophthalamide is transferred to a separatory funnel and the organic layer is separated from the aqueous layer. The organic layer is washed with a 10% w/v sodium chloride solution in a similar manner. The resulting TCE solution of the product is suitable for conversion to N,N-bis(2,3- dihydroxypropyl)-5-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycolamido]-2,4,6- triiodoisophthalamide (Ioversol) as shown above.