Gabapentin → Gabapentin Enacarbil

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of gabapentin (1.7 g, 10 mmol) and sodium bicarbonate (20 mmol) in water (40 mL) was added a solution of compound (10) (2.73 g, 10 mmol) in acetonitrile (20 mL) over 1 min. The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for 16 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with diethyl ether (100 mL) and washed with 0.1 M aqueous potassium bisulfate (3×100 mL). The organic phase was separated, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound (12) as a white solid (2.7 g, 96%). The product was recrystallized by dissolution in 1:10 ethyl acetate:heptane (10 mL) at 60° C., followed by slow cooling to 4° C. The white crystalline product was isolated by filtration. Melting point: 63-64° C.

Provenance & Evidence