The present invention provides a novel process for the preparation of alkyl (1-alkylindol-3-ylmethyl)benzoate derivatives which process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting of an alkyl (halomethyl)benzoate with excess of an indole, said indole being unsubstituted at positions 1-, 2- and 3-, under conditions promoting alkylation at the 3-position of the indole to yield a mixture comprising alkyl (indol-3-ylmethyl)benzoate and unreacted starting indole, (b) treating the mixture obtained in step (a) with base to yield a mixture, comprising the salt of (indol-3-ylmethyl)benzoic acid and the unreacted indole, (c) recovering the unreacted indole from the mixture obtained in step (b), and recycling the indole as starting material to step (a), (d) isolating the salt of (indol-3-ylmethyl)benzoic acid and/or acidifying the salt to form (indol-3-ylmethyl)benzoic acid, (e) reacting the (indol-3-ylmethyl)benzoic acid or it's salt with alkylating agent in the presence of base to form the desired alkyl (1-alkylindol-3-ylmethyl)benzoate. The above process affords also the preparation of the anti-asthmatic leukotriene antagonist zafirlukast. In such case, methyl 3-methoxy-4-(1-methyl-5-nitroindol-3-ylmethyl)benzoate [a]is formed in step (e) of the process and this compound is subsequently converted into zafirlukast by known methods.
本发明提供了一种新型的制备烷基(1-烷基
吲哚-3-基甲基)
苯甲酸酯衍
生物的方法,该方法包括以下步骤:(a)反应烷基(卤甲基)
苯甲酸酯与过量的
吲哚,在促进
吲哚3位烷基化的条件下,生成包含烷基(
吲哚-3-基甲基)
苯甲酸酯和未反应的起始
吲哚的混合物;(b)用碱处理步骤(a)中得到的混合物,生成包含(
吲哚-3-基甲基)
苯甲酸盐和未反应的
吲哚的混合物;(c)从步骤(b)中得到的混合物中回收未反应的
吲哚,并将
吲哚作为起始材料回收到步骤(a)中;(d)分离(
吲哚-3-基甲基)
苯甲酸盐和/或使
盐酸化形成(
吲哚-3-基甲基)
苯甲酸;(e)在碱的存在下,将(
吲哚-3-基甲基)
苯甲酸或其盐与烷基化试剂反应,形成所需的烷基(1-烷基
吲哚-3-基甲基)
苯甲酸酯。上述方法还可用于制备抗哮喘的
白三烯受体拮抗剂扎
菲鲁卡斯特。在这种情况下,步骤(e)中形成甲基3-甲氧基-4-(1-甲基-
5-硝基吲哚-3-基甲基)
苯甲酸酯,并随后通过已知方法将该化合物转化为扎
菲鲁卡斯特。