Succinic anhydride → Artesunate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Artemisinin (500 mg) and cation exchange resin (1 g) are stirred in tetrahydrofuran (10 ml) at room temperature for 5 minutes. Sodium borohydride (250 mg) is added slowly for 10 minutes and the reaction mixture is stirred for about 30 minutes at room temperature (20-35 degree C.). After completion of the reaction succinic anhydride (250 mg) and triethylamine (0.7 ml) are added at room temperature and the reaction mixture is stirred further for 1 hours at room temperature. The resin is filtered. After usual workup and column chromatography of the crude product (710 mg), 480 mg of pure artesunic acid (yield=96% w/w) is obtained.

Provenance & Evidence