Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process, suitable for industrial exploitation for the production of N-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-piperazin-1-yl-acetamide, also known as N-lidocaine, obtained from the reaction of piperazine with N-haloacetyl-2,6-xylidine. The process comprises the consecutive steps a) through f) a) reacting piperazine with N-haloacetyl-2,6-xylidine in a molar ratio between about 1/1 and about 6/1 in an aqueous solvent in which has been dissolved an equimolar amount of HCl; b) separating the solid formed in step a) from the reaction mixture; c) neutralizing the filtrate; d) extracting the filtrate with a solvent which is not or only to a small extent miscible with the aqueous solvent mentioned in step a); e) crystallizing the N-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-piperazin-1-yl-acetamide from the solvent mentioned in step d) and f) separating the solid obtained in step e) from the solvent mentioned in step d).

Abstract: The present invention relates to ester prodrugs of nalmefene of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, chemical processes for preparing these compounds and their use in the treatment of substance abuse disorders such as alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence and impulse control disorders such as pathological gambling and addiction to shopping.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of dibutyl tin oxide for regioselective catalytic diol mono-tosylation at a concentration lower than 2 mol %. The present invention also concerns the use of a generic acetal compound of Formula (Ic) in a catalytic process for regioselective diol mono-tosylation, wherein Y is selected from the group of C1-6alkyl, phenyl and benzyl. The concentration of the generic acetal compound of Formula (Ic) is less than about 2 mol %, preferably ranges between about 2 mol % and about 0.0005 mol %, preferably ranges between about 0.1 mol % and about 0.005 mol %.

Abstract: The present invention relates to prodrugs of nalmefene of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, chemical processes for preparing these compounds and their use in the treatment of substance abuse disorders such as alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence and impulse control disorders such as pathological gambling and addiction to shopping.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ester prodrugs of nalmefene of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, chemical processes for preparing these compounds and their use in the treatment of substance abuse disorders such as alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence and impulse control disorders such as pathological gambling and addiction to shopping.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for the production of [2-(4-fluoro-benzyl)-phenyl]-acetic acid, a compound obtainable from phthalic anhydride. The process comprises the subsequent steps a) through e): a) reacting phthalic anhydride with fluorobenzene or a derivative thereof in appropriate reaction conditions; b) over reducing the product obtained in step a) at the ketone moiety; c) reducing the product obtained in step b) with sodium dihydro-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminate (Red-Al) to the corresponding alcohol; d) chlorinating the alcohol obtained in step c); e) inserting CO into the product obtained in step d) through an appropriate Pd-containing catalytic system. In an alternative embodiment, the step e) is replaced by the steps f1) and f2): f1) reacting the product obtained in step d) with sodium cyanide; f2) hydrolysing the product obtained in step f1).

Abstract: The present invention concerns processes for the preparation of each of the 4 diastereomers of formula (I) in stereochemically pure form from either of two enantiomerically pure precursors. The tetracyclic ringsystem having trans-fused five and seven membered rings is formed in an acid-catalysed cyclization reaction. The invention further relates to the thus obtained cis-fused tetracyclic alcohol intermediates, the methanamine end-products, the methanamine end-products for use as a medicine, in particular as CNS active medicines.