Treprostinil is a synthetic prostacyclin derivative with thrombocyte aggregation inhibitory and vasodilatory activity. Treprostinil can be administered in subcutaneous, intravenous, inhalable, or oral forms. Disclosed is a method for the preparation of treprostinil of formula I and its amorphous form, anhydrate form, monohydrate form, and polyhydrate form salts with bases. In the disclosed method, the chiral center in the 3-hydroxyoctyl substituent is formed at the end of the synthesis, so that the method is robust and well scalable. Also disclosed are treprostinil intermediates and the preparation of the intermediates. ##STR00001##

Treprostinil is a synthetic prostacyclin derivative with thrombocyte aggregation inhibitory and vasodilatory activity. Treprostinil can be administered in subcutaneous, intravenous, inhalable, or oral forms. Disclosed is a method for the preparation of treprostinil of formula I and its amorphous form, anhydrate form, monohydrate form, and polyhydrate form salts with bases. In the disclosed method, the chiral center in the 3-hydroxyoctyl substituent is formed at the end of the synthesis, so that the method is robust and well scalable. Also disclosed are treprostinil intermediates and the preparation of the intermediates. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides processes for preparing an α-necrodyl compound of the following general formula (3): wherein R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, the process comprising: subjecting a 3, 5, 5-trimethyl-3-cyclopentene compound of the following general formula (1): wherein R.sup.2 is as defined above, and X represents a leaving group, to a nucleophilic substitution reaction with a methylating agent of the following general formula (2): wherein M represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, ZnZ.sup.1, Cu, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a methyl group, to form the α-necrodyl compound (3). The present invention further provides processes for preparing γ-necrodyl compounds of the following general formula (4): wherein R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, the process comprising: subjecting the α-necrodyl compound (3) thus obtained to a positional isomerization reaction at the double bond to form the γ-necrodyl compound (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention provides processes for preparing an α-necrodyl compound of the following general formula (3): wherein R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, the process comprising: subjecting a 3, 5, 5-trimethyl-3-cyclopentene compound of the following general formula (1): wherein R.sup.2 is as defined above, and X represents a leaving group, to a nucleophilic substitution reaction with a methylating agent of the following general formula (2): wherein M represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, ZnZ.sup.1, Cu, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a methyl group, to form the α-necrodyl compound (3). The present invention further provides processes for preparing γ-necrodyl compounds of the following general formula (4): wherein R.sup.2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, the process comprising: subjecting the α-necrodyl compound (3) thus obtained to a positional isomerization reaction at the double bond to form the γ-necrodyl compound (4).

##STR00001##

The present disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalonitrile, to use of a compound which is 2-methoxy-5-(4-methylbenzyl)phenol, (3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)(p-tolyl)methanone, 2-methoxy-5-(4-methylbenzoyl)phenyl 2-chloroacetate, 4-methylbenzoyl chloride, 2-methoxyphenyl 2-chloroacetate or 2-methoxyphenol in the preparation of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalonitrile and to a compound which is 4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalaldehyde dioxime or 4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalaldehyde and use thereof in the preparation of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalonitrile. 4,5-Dihydroxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalonitrile is a COMT inhibitor.

The present disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalonitrile, to use of a compound which is 2-methoxy-5-(4-methylbenzyl)phenol, (3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)(p-tolyl)methanone, 2-methoxy-5-(4-methylbenzoyl)phenyl 2-chloroacetate, 4-methylbenzoyl chloride, 2-methoxyphenyl 2-chloroacetate or 2-methoxyphenol in the preparation of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalonitrile and to a compound which is 4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalaldehyde dioxime or 4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalaldehyde and use thereof in the preparation of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalonitrile. 4,5-Dihydroxy-2-(4-methylbenzyl)isophthalonitrile is a COMT inhibitor.

Treprostinil is a synthetic prostacyclin derivative with thrombocyte aggregation inhibitory and vasodilatory activity. Treprostinil can be administered in subcutaneous, intravenous, inhalable, or oral forms. Disclosed is a method for the preparation of treprostinil of formula I and its amorphous form, anhydrate form, monohydrate form, and polyhydrate form salts with bases. In the disclosed method, the chiral center in the 3-hydroxyoctyl substituent is formed at the end of the synthesis, so that the method is robust and well scalable. Also disclosed are treprostinil intermediates and the preparation of the intermediates.

##STR00001##

Treprostinil is a synthetic prostacyclin derivative with thrombocyte aggregation inhibitory and vasodilatory activity. Treprostinil can be administered in subcutaneous, intravenous, inhalable, or oral forms. Disclosed is a method for the preparation of treprostinil of formula I and its amorphous form, anhydrate form, monohydrate form, and polyhydrate form salts with bases. In the disclosed method, the chiral center in the 3-hydroxyoctyl substituent is formed at the end of the synthesis, so that the method is robust and well scalable. Also disclosed are treprostinil intermediates and the preparation of the intermediates.

##STR00001##

Treprostinil is a synthetic prostacyclin derivative with thrombocyte aggregation inhibitory and vasodilatory activity. Treprostinil can be administered in subcutaneous, intravenous, inhalable, or oral forms. Disclosed is a method for the preparation of treprostinil of formula I and its amorphous form, anhydrate form, monohydrate form, and polyhydrate form salts with bases. In the disclosed method, the chiral center in the 3-hydroxyoctyl substituent is formed at the end of the synthesis, so that the method is robust and well scalable. Also disclosed are treprostinil intermediates and the preparation of the intermediates.

##STR00001##

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for synthesizing a fatty olefin derivative. The method includes: a) contacting an olefin according to Formula I ##STR00001##
with a metathesis reaction partner according to Formula IIb ##STR00002##
in the presence of a metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a metathesis product according to Formula IIIb: ##STR00003##
and
b) converting the metathesis product to the fatty olefin derivative. Each R.sup.1 is independently selected from H, C.sub.1-18 alkyl, and C.sub.2-18 alkenyl; R.sup.2b is C.sub.1-8 alkyl; subscript y is an integer ranging from 0 to 17; and subscript z is an integer ranging from 0 to 17. In certain embodiments, the metathesis catalyst is a tungsten catalyst or a molybdenum catalyst. In various embodiments, the fatty olefin derivative is a pheromone. Pheromone compositions and methods of using them are also described.