Water → Ibuprofen, Sodium Salt

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of (S)-enriched ibuprofen having an enantiomeric purity of 95.5% (211 kg) in toluene (797 kg) was heated to 60° C. with water (300 l) and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (52 l--specific gravity 1.5) and allowed to settle for four hours. The aqueous layer was separated and the toluene layer washed with water. The aqueous washings and the aqueous layer were combined and residual toluene removed by distillation. Acetone (1684 kg) was added and the mixture cooled to 20° C. The sodium salt of (S)-enriched ibuprofen dihydrate (having an enantiomeric purity of 99.9%) separated, was collected by filtration and dried in vacuo. (Yield 143.5 kg).

Provenance & Evidence