Abstract: A salt of a glucosamine base having a purity of at least about 99 wt. % and a maximum halide content of about 0.01 wt. %, and an organic acid. The organic acid that is saltified with the glucosamine base is preferably a hydroxyacid or a ketoacid. Preferably, the salt is stabilized by coating the salt with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable polymer comprising a water-soluble, water-immiscible and/or water-swellable homopolymer and/or copolymer. Suitable polymers include carboxypolymethylene homopolymers and copolymers; polyethylene glycol homopolymers and copolymers; polypropylene glycol homopolymers and copolymers; ethylcellulose; povidone homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylic acid homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylamide homopolymers and copolymers; polysaccharides; and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing polymers. The resultant coated salt composition will be stable at ambient temperatures and upon exposure to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A stabilized glucosamine base composition comprising a glucosamine base having a purity level of at least 99.0 wt. % and a maximum halide content of about 0.01 wt. % coated with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable polymer comprising a water-soluble, water-immiscible and/or water-swellable homopolymer and/or copolymer. The resultant coated glucosamine base composition will be stable at ambient temperatures and upon exposure to the atmosphere. Suitable polymers include carboxypolymethylene homopolymers and copolymers; polyethylene glycol homopolymers and copolymers; polypropylene glycol homopolymers and copolymers; ethylcellulose; povidone homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylic acid homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylamide homopolymers and copolymers; polysaccharides; and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing polymers.

Abstract: A glucosamine base having a pure level of at least about 99.0 wt. % and a maximum halide content of 0.01 wt. %. The pure glucosamine base is prepared by reacting a glucosamine halide, e.g., glucosamine hydrochloride, with a lithium base in the presence of a C1-C4 alcohol to thereby generate a C1-C4 alcohol solution of a lithium halide and an insoluble halide-free glucosamine base and thereafter separating the insoluble halide-free glucosamine base from the C1-C4 alcohol solution of the lithium halide. Preferably, the lithium base comprises anhydrous lithium hydroxide and the preferable alcohol comprises methanol.

Abstract: A method for preparing n-acetylglucosamine starting from glucosamine base having a purity level of at least about 99 wt. % and a maximum halide content of about 0.01 wt %. The glucosamine base is slurried in a diluent comprising a C1-C4 straight or branched-chain alcohol, e.g., isopropyl alcohol, sec. butyl alcohol, tert. butyl alcohol, etc. Thereafter, an acylating agent, e.g., acetic anhydride, present in at least a stoichiometric amount, is slowly added to the slurry while maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature below about 20° C. The n-acetylglucosamine prepared by the process of the invention will be quite pure, e.g., it will have a purity of at least 98%, as measured by HPLC, a melting point in the range of 196-205° C. and a specific rotation, measured at room temperature after standing in water for several hours, of [?]D=39-43°.