Abstract: A process for the preparation of amorphous HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and its hydrates thereof of desired particle size, which comprises: (a) dissolving the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in a hydroxylic solvent; (b) removing the solvent by freeze-drying.

Abstract: The present invention discusses a novel process for the synthesis of [R-(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-B,D-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid hemi calcium, atorvastatin. The compound so prepared is useful as inhibitor of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase and may thus be used as hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for the synthesis of Simvastatin of formula II. The process comprises converting Lovastatin to the corresponding amide intermediate using a secondary amine. The C-8 2-methylbutyrate side chain of the amide intermediate is subsequently methylated by reaction with a suitable base, followed by treatment with a methylating agent. The 2,2-dimethylbutyrate intermediate is further transformed to the final product, Simvastatin, by hydrolysis, followed by lactonization. In another aspect, the present invention provides intermediates of formula IIb and IIc useful for the preparation of Simvastatin: wherein R1 and R2 are as defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides intermediates of formula IIb and IIc useful for the preparation of Simvastatin: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently an alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl moiety, or R1 and R2, taken together, form a heterocyclic moiety containing 5-8 atoms; wherein each of the foregoing alkyl and heteroalkyl moieties may be linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, cyclic or acyclic or saturated or unsaturated, and each of the foregoing heterocyclic, aryl and heteroaryl moieties may be substituted or unsubstituted.

Abstract: This invention describes the synthesis of simvastatin from lovastatin by converting the lovastatin to lova amide using a secondary amine and subsequent reaction with a metal amide base generated from n-butyl lithium and pyrrolidine and followed by treatment with methyl iodide to give desired C-methylated intermediate. This intermediate was further transformed to the final product, simvastatin. This method of production consumes lesser quantities of metal amide, gives fewer side reactions and a lowered overall cost of manufacture of simvastatin than other procedures reported.