Title:The Rational Synthesis of Fenidronate
VOLUME: 11 ISSUE: 5
Author(s):Alajos Grun, Rita Kovács, Dávid Illés Nagy, Sándor Garadnay, István Greiner and Gyorgy Keglevich
Affiliation:Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1521 Budapest, Hungary.
Keywords:Dronic acid, dronate, synthesis, intermediate, optimization, titration.
Abstract:The synthesis of the disodium salt of fenidronate by the reaction of benzoic acid with phosphorus trichloride
and phosphorous acid in methanesulfonic acid was investigated and optimized. It was enough to use 3.2 equivalents of
phosphorus trichloride and there was no need to apply phosphorous acid. Both the one-step and two-step versions led to
similar results giving the product in ca. 45% yield and in high purity. It was also possible to start directly from benzoyl
chloride or ethyl benzoate. The work-up included in all cases hydrolysis and pH adjustment followed by purification. The
fenidronic acid standard that was necessary for the analysis of our samples was prepared by another approach, by the
addition of dimethyl phosphite to the carbonyl group of the -oxophosphonate, followed by hydrolysis of the tetramethyl
ester so formed.
