OLMESARTAN MEDOXOMIL WITH REDUCED LEVELS OF IMPURITIES
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/640,232 filed January 3, 2005.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to olmesartan medoxomil with reduced levels of impurities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The chemical name for olmesartan medoxomil is 4-(l-hydroxy-l-methylethyl)-2-propyl-1 -[[2'-( 1 H-tetrazol-5-yl)[l, 1 '-biphenyl]-4-yl]methyl]-lH-imidazole-5-carboxylic acid (5-methyl-2-oxo-l,3-dioxol-4-yl)methyI ester (Merck Index 13th ed.).
The chemical structure of olmesartan medoxomil is
(Formula Removed)
The empirical formula is C29H30N6O6.
The molecular weight is 558.58.
Olmesartan medoxomil is a prodrug that is hydrolyzed during absorption, and it is a selective AT1 subtype angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Olmesartan medoxomil is disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 5,616,599 to Yanagisawa et al. It is marketed as BENICAR® in film-coated tablets of 5 mg, 20 mg, and 40 rng for treatment of hypertension in a human.
The synthesis of olmesartan medoxomil (OLM-Mod) per se is illustrated as follows (see also Annu. Rep. Sankyo Res. Lab 2003,55,1-91):
(Formula Removed)

But this route of synthesis produces several impurities.
There is a need for processes for preparing olmesartan medoxomil with reduced levels of impurities.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 depicts a typical chromatogram of a trityl olmesartan medoxomil (MTT) sample.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing olmesartan medoxomil containing less than about 0.1% area by HPLC of one or more of the following impurities: OLM-Me, OLM-C1, and OLM-eliminate. This process includes the steps of: obtaining a sample of trityl olmesartan medoxomil (MTT); measuring the amount of one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of MTT-Me, MTT-C1, and MTT-eliminate in the sample of trityl olmesartan medoxomil; selecting a sample of trityl olmesartan medoxomil in which the amount of one or more of the measured impurities is less than about 0.1%; and synthesizing olmesartan medoxomil from the selected trityl olmesartan
medoxomil sample, Preferably, the amount of each of the three impurities in the starting material and/or the final product is less than about 0.1%. More preferably, the combined amount of the three impurities is less than about 0.1%.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a process for preparing olmesartan medoxomil containing less than about 0.1% area by HPLC of one or more of the impurities OLM-Me, OLM-C1 and OLM-eliminate.
Impurity OLM-Me is 4-(l-methoxy-l-methylethyl)-2-propyl-l-[2'-(lH-tetrazole-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yhnethyl]imidazole-5-carboxylic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-l,3-dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester.
Impurity OLM-C1 is 4-(l-hydroxy-l-methylethyl)-2-propyl-l-[2'-(lH-tetrazole-5-yl)biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]imidazole-5-carboxylic acid 5-chloromethyl-2-oxo-l ,3-dioxol-4-yl methyl ester.
Impurity OLM-eliminate is 4-(l-methylethylene)-2-propyl-l-[2'-(lH-tetrazole-5-yl)biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]imidazole-5-carboxylicacid 5-chloromethyl-2-oxo-l,3-dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester.

The chemical structures of impurities OLM-Me, OLM-C1, and OLM-eliminate are:
(Formula Removed)

The precursors of impurities OLM-Me and OLM-eliminate can form during the Grignard reaction, reaction step D in the synthesis route described previously. The formation of the precursors of impurities OLM-Me and OLM-eliminate is illustrated as follows:

(Formula Removed)
The precursor of impurity OLM-C1 can form during reaction step K when the coupling reagent chloro-medoxomil (4~chloromethyl-2-oxo-l,3-dioxolene) contains some dichloromedoxomil (4,5-dichloro-dimethyl-2-oxo-l ,3-dioxolene):
(Formula Removed)
The impurities OLM-Me, OLM-C1, and OLM-eliminate have no known medicinal effect. The impurities at the trityl olmesartan medoxomil (MTT) stage— MTT-Me, MTT-C1, and MTT eliminate— are not used for synthesizing olmesartan medoxomil. Structures for MTT-Me, MTT-C1, and MTT are described below.
By selecting trityl olmesartan medoxomil with low levels of MTT-Me, MTT-C1, and MTT eliminate, one can use the selected MTT to synthesize olmesartan medoxomil with low levels of impurities OLM-Me, OLM-C1, and OLM-eliminate.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a process for preparing olmesartan medoxomil containing less than about 0,1% area by HPLC of one or more of the following impurities: OLM-Me, OLM-C1, and OLM-eliminate. This process includes the steps of: obtaining a sample of trityl olmesartan medoxomil (MTT); measuring the amount of one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of MTT-Me, MTT-C1, and MTT-elkninate in the sample of trityl olmesartan medoxomil; selecting a sample of trityl olmesartan medoxomil in which the amount of one or more of the measured impurities is less than about 0.1%; and synthesizing olmesartan medoxomil from the selected trityl olmesartan

medoxomil sample. Preferably, the amount of each of the three impurities in the starting material and/or the final product is less than about 0.1%. More preferably, the combined amount of the three impurities is less than about 0.1%.
The chemical structures of MTT-Me, MTT-CI, and MTT-eliminate are:
(Formula Removed)

The amounts of MTT-Me, MTT-CI, and MTT-eliminate are measured using HPLC. The amounts of OLM-Me, OLM-C1 and OLM-eliminate are also measured using HPLC. An exemplary impurity profile determination is described in Example 1.
One can use any method known in the art to synthesize olmesartan medoxomil from trityl olmesartan medoxomil, such as the process described in U.S. Patent No. 5,616,599. Olmesartan medoxomil can be synthesized from trityl olmesartan medoxomil by a method including the steps of: contacting trityl olmesartan medoxomil with an acid in a water raiscible organic solvent, with or without water, to obtain a solution of olmesartan medoxomil and a precipitate of triphenyl carbinol; separating the precipitate of triphenyl carbinol from the solution of olmesartan medoxomil; and contacting the solution of olmesartan medoxomil with a base to obtain a precipitate of olmesartan medoxomil. Preferably, trityl olmesartan medoxomil is contacted with the acid in a water miscible organic solvent and water. Most preferably, a mixture of acetone and water is used.
EXAMPLES
Impurity profile determination of MTT (raw material of olmesartan medoxomil)
HPLC
Column & packing Discovery HS C18 50*4.6 mm, 3µ C.N269250-U
Eluent A: 0.025 M NaClO4 adjusted to pH=2.5 with HC1O4
Eluent B: Acetonitrile
Gradient of Eluent: Time (min) Eluent A (%) Eluent B (%)
0 70 30
10 60 40
20 40 60
35 40 60
Stop time: 35 min
Equilibration time: 5 min
Flow: l.5ml/min
Detector: 220 nm
Injection volume: 10 µl
Diluent Acetonitrile
Column temperature 25°C
Autosampler temperature 5°C
Sample solution preparation
Weigh accurately about 15 mg of MTT sample into a 50 ml volumetric flask, dissolve, and dilute to volume with diluent.
Method
Inject sample solutions continuing the chromatogram up to the end of gradient. Determine the area of each impurity using suitable integrator.
Calculations
Any impurity in a sample is calculated as follows:
% Impurity in sample = area impurity in sample x100
∑ Areas of all peaks
RR.T of the substances

(Table Removed)

The detection limit in the HPLC method is 0.01%.
Example 1 Preparation of crude olmesartan medoxomil
A 250 round bottom flask was loaded with MTT (10 g), acetone/water (2/2 vol.), and 3 eq of H2SO4. The mixture was stirred at 40°C, and after 2-4 hrs, triphenyl carbinol (TPC) was precipitated by the addition of water and filtrated out. NaHCO3 was added to the filtrate and the mixture was cooled to room temperature and stirred for 1 hr. Crude olmesartan medoxomil was obtained as white crystals (90% yield).
Example 2: Preparation of olmesartan medoxomil crystals
AIL flask was charged with acetone (4% water). Crude olmesartan medoxomil (10 g) was added, and the mixture was heated to reflux (1 hr). After cooling to room temperature, water (10 vol) was added. The mixture was stirred (1 hr). Then the precipitate was filtered and dried at 45°C under 10 mm Hg (yield 90 %).
Having thus described the invention with reference to particular preferred embodiments and illustrative examples, those in the art can appreciate modifications to the invention as described and illustrated that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the specification. The examples are set forth to aid in understanding the invention but are not intended to, and should not be construed to, limit its scope in any way. The examples do not include detailed descriptions of conventional methods.

CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A process for preparing olmesartan medoxomil containing less than about 0.1 % of one or
more of OLM-Me, OLM-Cl, and OLM-eliminate, comprising:
a) obtaining a sample of trityl olmesartan medoxomil;
b) measuring the amount of one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of
MTT-Me, MTT-C1, and MTT-eliminate in the sample of trityl olmesartan medoxomil;
c) selecting a sample of trityl olmesartan medoxomil in which the amount of one or more
of the measured impurities is less than about 0.1%; and
d) synthesizing olmesartan medoxomil from the trityl olmesartan medoxomil selected in
step c).

2. The process of claim 1. wherein the amount of each of the impurities MTT-Me, MTT-C1,
and MTT-eliminate in the selected sample of step c) is less man about 0.1%.
3. The process of claim I, wherein the combined amount of the impurities MTT-Me, MTT-
Cl, and MTT-eliminate in the selected sample of step c) is less than about 0.1%.
4. The process of claim 1, wherein the one or more impurities in step b) is measured by
HPLC.
5. The process of claim 1, wherein the amount of each of the impurities OLM-Me, OLM-Cl,
and OLM-eliminate in the olmesartan medoxomil synthesized in step d) is less than about
0.1%.
6. The process of claim 5, wherein the combined amount of the impurities OLM-Me, OLM-
Cl, and OLM-eliminate in the olmesartan medoxomil synthesized in step d) is less than about
0.1%.
7. The process of claim 5, wherein the impurities OLM-Me, OLM-Cl, and OLM-eliminate in
the olmesartan medoxomil synthesized in step d) are measured by HPLC.