Claims for Patent: 5,886,184

Summary for Patent: 5,886,184

Title:	Finasteride processes
Abstract:	Disclosed is a new process for producing finasteride which involves reacting the magnesium halide salt of 17.beta.-carboalkoxy-4-aza-5.alpha.-androst-1-en-3-one with t-butylamino magnesium halide, present in at least a 2:1 molar ratio to the ester, formed from t-butyl amine and an aliphatic/aryl magnesium halide at ambient temperature in an inert organic solvent under an inert atmosphere followed by heating and recovering the product finasteride. Also disclosed are two polymorphic crystalline Forms I and II of finasteride, and methods of their production.
Inventor(s):	Dolling; Ulf H. (Westfield, NJ), McCauley; James A. (Belle Mead, NJ), Varsolona; Richard J. (Scotch Plains, NJ)
Assignee:	Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, NJ)
Application Number:	08/824,426
Patent Claims:	1. 17.beta.-(N-tert-butylcarbamoyl)4-aza-5.alpha.-androst-1-en-3-one of the structure ##STR5## that exists in polymorphic Form II, prepared by: (1) crystallization from a mixture of finasteride in an organic solvent and water, such that the amount of organic solvent and water in the mixture is sufficient to cause the solubility of the solvated form of finasteride to be exceeded and the solvated form of finasteride to be less soluble than any other form of finasteride in the mixture; (2) recovering the resultant solid phase; and (3) removing the solvent therefrom. 2. The product by the process of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is glacial acetic acid, and the weight percentage of water in the solvent mixture is less than about 83%. 3. The product by the process of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is ethyl acetate and the amount of water in the solvent mixture is greater than about 3.5 mg/ml. 4. The product by the process of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is iso-propyl acetate, and the amount of water in the solvent mixture is greater than about 1.6 mg/ml. 5. 17.beta.-(N-tert-butyl carbamoyl)-4-aza-5.alpha.-androst-1-en-3-one polymorphic Form II. characterized by characteristic absorption bands obtained from X-ray powder diffraction spectral d-spacings of 14.09, 10.36, 7.92, 7.18, 6.40, 5.93, 5.66, 5.31, 4.68, 3.90, 3.60 and 3.25; a differential scanning calorimetry curve, at a heating rate of 20.degree. C./min, that exhibits a single melting endotherm with a peak temperature of about 261.degree. C. and an extrapolated onset temperature of about 258.degree. C. with an associated heat of about 89 joules/gm; an FT-IR spectrum (in KBr) showing bands at 3441, 3215, 1678, 1654, 1597, 1476 and 752 cm-1; and solubilities in water and cyclohexane at 25.degree. C. of 0.16+0.02 and 0.42+0.05 mg/gm, respectively. 6. A process for producing polymorphic Form II of 17.beta.-(N-tert-butyl carbamoyl)-4-aza-5.alpha.-androst-1-en-3-one in substantially pure form, comprising the steps of: (1) crystallization from a mixture of finasteride in an organic solvent and water, such that the amount of organic solvent and water in the mixture is sufficient to cause the solubility of the solvated form of finasteride to be exceeded and the solvated form of fmasteride to be less soluble than any other form of finasteride in the mixture; (2) recovering the resultant solid phase; and (3) removing the solvent therefrom. 7. The process of claim 6 wherein the organic solvent is glacial acetic acid, and the weight percentage of water in the solvent mixture is less than about 83%. 8. A process for producing polymorphic Form II of 17.beta.-(N-tert-butyl carbamoyl)-4-aza-5.alpha.-androst-1-en-3-one in substantially pure form, comprising the steps of: (1) Crystallization from a mixture of finasteride in an ethyl acetate and water, such that the amount of water in the solvent mixture is greater than about 3.5 mg/ml; (2) recovering the resultant solid phase; and (3) removing the solvent therefrom. 9. The process of claim 6 wherein the organic solvent is iso-propyl acetate, and the amount of water in the solvent mixture is greater than about 1.6 mg/ml.