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Prepared for Presentation at the 2000 Spring AIChE Meeting, Atlanta, GA March 5-10.
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148d
Introduction
compounds. The Tech Center, as it is known, develops new chemistry and implements
respond to public concerns about the manufacture and use of chemicals. Part of the
guiding principles of the Responsible Care program is to make health, safety, the
environment, and resource conservation critical considerations for all new and existing
products and processes. Scientists and engineers at the Tech Center perform second
generation process development in accordance with the guiding principles of the CMA’s
reduced air emissions by ∼66% and liquid/solid waste generation by ∼89%. The
increases in raw material costs were more than offset by improvements in equipment
utilization as reflected in the overall process throughput. Thus the objectives of the
Responsible Care program were met while also meeting and exceeding the profitability
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Background
generation processes for the reduction of manufacturing costs for bulk pharmaceutical
drug substances has been a central goal for process chemists and engineers at the Roche
with efficient chemical engineering principles have been realized in the successful
demonstration of the new Guanine TriEster (GTE) Process for the manufacture of
Cytovene®.
AIDS. Patients who are particularly at risk for developing CMV infections include those
with AIDS and patients who are recipients of solid tissue transplants.
HN N
H2N N N
OH
O
OH
Ganciclovir
(CYTOVENE)
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the relative manufacturing efficiencies between the first generation Persilylation Process
and the second generation GTE Process for the commercial manufacture of ganciclovir
using a commercial modeling software program (Batch Plus from Aspen Technology,
Inc.). Specific parameters calculated for documenting the relative efficiencies of the two
processes include estimated costs, energy usage, mass and energy balances, estimated
cycle times, air emissions, and solid and liquid waste streams. The qualitative results of
this evaluation revealed that significant process efficiencies resulting in cost reduction
and reduced global environmental impact can be attained from the judicious chemical
process design.
(Zovirax®) for the treatment of various viral infections including herpes viruses HSV-1
inhibiting cellular DNA polymerase that is associated with viral infections. Subsequent
to these early discoveries, significant advances have been made to prepare various
guanosine analogs for the inhibition of viral activities related to both RNA and DNA
and related guanosine derivatives involve the selective N-alkylation of guanine and its
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desired N-9 product over the N-7 isomer is an exceptional challenge. This is due in part
to the lack of stereoelectronic differentiation between the N-9 and the N-7 centers and the
alkylated product mixtures (Singh et al., 1999). In addition, the amphoteric property and
the highly insoluble characteristics of guanine in most organic solvent systems limit the
Many different approaches have been explored for the selective functionalization
of either guanine or various guanine derivatives. Previously reported conditions for the
selective alkylation reaction, that is, N-alkylation processes that afford predominantly or
exclusively the desired N-9 over the undesired N-7 isomer, include the use of reaction
carbonate (CsCO3) (Kim et al., 1988) and cesium iodide (CsI) (Matsumoto et al., 1970) in
chlorinated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, and toxic metal salts such as mercuric
acetate (Hg(OAc)2) (Hrebabecky and Farkas, 1974), mercuric cyanide (Hg(CN)2) (Kim et
al., 1991), zinc chloride (ZnCl2) (Matsumoto et al., 1970) and tin tetrachloride (SnCl4)
(Garner and Ramakanth, 1988). Incidental reaction conditions employed with the intent
1989), sulfolane (Jacobs et al, 1989), and related high boiling solvent systems.
The first commercially viable process (Verheyden et al., 1986) for the
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known as Syntex Chemicals (see Scheme 1, Persilylation Process). The six-step process
required the processing of 28 reagents and intermediates, including the purification and
approximately 50 metric tons per year, and it was readily determined that the first
generation Persilylation Process could not be used to meet these production quantities
1993, the Boulder Technology Center completed the demonstration of a new and
expedient process for the production of ganciclovir by 1) leveraging the basic principles
of molecular conservation to minimize the creation and disposal of undesired wastes, and
The second generation Guanine TriEster (GTE) Process (Scheme 2: The GTE
Process) successfully demonstrated the potential for a “one step” process for the
from 28 to 11, eliminated the two hazardous solid waste streams, and eliminated 11
different by-products from the liquid waste streams (Lodewijk et al., 1996). In addition,
of the 5 raw materials employed but not incorporated into the molecular structure of the
final product, 4 were efficiently recovered in situ and reused for subsequent production
batches.
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The chemistry scheme designed into the GTE Process also eliminated a
Persilylation Process.
molecular conservation was the judicious design of the 4-carbon triester coupling reagent,
which was ultimately appended into the purine nucleus as the key N-9 substituted side
chain. The triester coupling reagent was designed to incorporate simple low molecular
weight functionalities, vis-a-vis an ethyl ester that, after condensation, would be readily
by-products. In practice, the construction of the low molecular weight coupling reagent
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O
OH OH
HN N
OH H2N N N
H
CH2(OMe)2
2 Bnzl-Cl Ac2O
Ac2O DMAP, PhCH3
p-TsOH
OBn OBn
O
+ MeOCH2OAc
N
OH HN
p-TsOH AcNH N N
H
Hexanes
HMDS, Xylenes
(NH4)2SO4, DMF
OBn OBn
1
1 O
AcO O OBn
O N
O HN
OBn
HN N AcNH N N
AcNH N N O
SiO2-AlO2 N-7 50% Yield
N-9
CH2Cl2 N-9/N-7=10:1
OBn OBn
WASTE H2
Pd(OH)2/MeOH
O O
N N
HN HN
NH4OH, H2O
N AcNH N N
H2N N
O MeOH O
Ganciclovir
OH OH OH OH
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Another key aspect for attaining higher reaction yields in the GTE Process was
the novel design of the silylation reaction of guanine, a raw material prevalently found in
animals and plants and isolated from guano (Shapiro, 1968). Minor processing
modifications of the silylation reaction of guanine and subsequent coupling with the
the N-9/N-7 product mixture followed by the selective crystallization of the N-9 product
provided a facile method for isolating exclusively the desired N-9 product in high
chemical yield.
Final deprotection to remove the esters and amide protecting groups could be
readily accomplished in a single step using aqueous ammonium hydroxide, to afford the
Practical engineering designs for further streamlining the GTE Process included
the in situ hydrolysis of the N-9 acylated intermediate thereby establishing a “one-step”
O
1. HMDS, TfOH
EtCO2 OCOEt HN N
O
O
N OCOEt H2N N N
HN
N O
H2N N (EtCO)2O, DMAP
H
MeOH, PhCH3
2. NH4OH, MeOH OH OH
Ganciclovir
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synthesis of ganciclovir and eliminated the drying, isolation and storage of the triester
intermediate. Accordingly, the crystallized pure acylated N-9 product is filtered from the
reaction mixture, washed with toluene, and then the product in the filter is dissolved in
aqueous ammonium hydroxide as the toluene wet cake into a reaction vessel and
ammonia from the reaction mixture is recovered through a vacuum distillation utilizing a
secondary receiver containing cold water to absorb the ammonia. The innovative method
ammonia gas from the product mixture with the concurrent purification of ammonium
Based on the initial projected demand for the commercial production of 50 metric
tons of ganciclovir per year, the annual consumption of raw materials, waste streams and
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At the 50 metric ton annual production level, a comparison of the processed raw
materials and intermediates between the two processes reveals that approximately 3.58
million kg are required in the Persilylation process while only 636 thousand kg are
required in the GTE process. Implicit in this disparity of material usage are the
significant global savings associated with the initial sourcing, production, shipping,
For purposes of this paper, the Persilylation and GTE processes were compared
by means of a series of computer simulations using Aspen Technology, Inc. Batch Plus
software. While production data are available for running both processes in
combinations, different utilities, and at different scales. These parameter variations could
potentially bias the process evaluation unfairly in favor of one process or the other. The
use of Batch Plus software facilitated the modeling of the two operations assuming
identical equipment and utilities, identical operations protocols, and identical scales.
Output from the models was compared to process data to evaluate the accuracy of the
models. Modifications were made as necessary to ensure the accuracy of the process
models. Where information was either unknown or not available, the models assumed
the default conditions in the modeling software. The results of the comparison of the
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Persilylation and GTE processes are shown in Table 2. Discrepancies between entries in
Tables 1 and 2 are due to differences between forecast product and raw material demands
(Table 1) and the processes as modeled based on final recipes (Table 2).
Table 2: Comparison of the Persilylation and GTE Processes for the Production of Ganciclovir
(Basis: 1,000 kg Ganciclovir output)
Persilylation GTE ∆%
Process Process
3
Total reactor volume required (m ) 58.0 27.2 -53.1%
As shown, both the number and weight of raw materials consumed to produce
1,000 kg of Cytovene is greatly reduced in the GTE Process versus the Persilylation
Process. This is the result of several factors. The overall chemistry of the GTE Process
there is a total of only five reactions and the isolation of one intermediate in the synthesis
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using the GTE Process versus eight reactions involving the isolation of four intermediates
in the Persilylation Process. Eliminating reactions and isolations reduces both the
number of reagents required and the amount of solvent consumed during filtration and
washing the filter cake. In addition to simplified process chemistry, the GTE Process has
The optimized chemistry and elimination of process steps are also reflected in
reduced process emissions and decreased liquid/solid waste generation. This results from
decreased solvent handling (e.g., solvent strip operations, filtrations, drying), process
optimization to eliminate solid by-products and decrease the use of filter-aids, and also
the implementation of solvent recovery operations. The GTE Process recovers over 90%
of the input solvents. This is also reflected in the fresh solvent utilization entry in Table
2. Furthermore, the GTE Process requires 94% less fresh solvent that the Persilylation
process.
strips, and drying operations, the utility demand is significantly decreased for the GTE
Process. The heating demand is down 47% and the cooling demand decreased by ∼75%.
This represents not only a cost savings for production, but decreases fossil fuel demands
Raw materials for the GTE Process were about 2.5 times as expensive as in the
Persilylation Process. However, this increase was offset by several factors including
those discussed above. The factor that made it financially attractive to pursue the second
generation chemistry was the increase in process throughput. This is an indicator of the
efficiency of equipment and time utilization and is measured in mass of product produced
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per cubic meter of total vessel volume per hour of process cycle time. For the GTE
Process the throughput was 1.27 kg/m3-h versus 0.35 kg/m3-h for the Persilylation
the second generation GTE Process for Cytovene, there are secondary, less quantifiable
benefits as well. By streamlining operations in the GTE Process, the isolation and
storage of several process intermediates were eliminated as well. This decreases the
“Goods in Process” inventory and frees valuable warehouse space that could be used for
decreased raw material consumption. The more efficient use of raw materials and
solvents decreases the demand on natural resources, reduces the consumption of fossil
fuels, and decreases emissions and waste streams produced by suppliers of raw materials.
Conclusion
The second generation Guanine TriEster (GTE) Process for the manufacture of
ganciclovir, a potent antiviral agent for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis
developing new and convergent chemical pathways with creative engineering principles,
the GTE Process permitted Roche to meet the significantly increased commercial demand
for ganciclovir and, at the same time, significantly reduced the potentially significant
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the first generation Persilylation and GTE processes may be determined. Second
Acknowledgements:
The initial drive and creativity of the original co-inventors of the GTE Process
described in U.S. patent 5,565,565, including Drs. Eric Lodewijk, Yeun-Kwei Han, and
George Schloemer are gratefully acknowledged. Implementation of the GTE Process for
commercial production would not have been possible without the full support of our
friends and colleagues at the Boulder Technology Center and Roche Colorado
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References
Batch Plus Batch process modeling software from Aspen Technology, Inc. Ten Canal
Claussen, F. P.; Juhl-Christensen, J. Organic Prep. & Proced. Intl. 1993, 25, 375 and
Hrebabecky, H.; Farkas, J. Coll. Czech. Chem. Comm., 1974, 39, 2115.
Jacobs, G. A.; Tino, J. A.; Zahler, R. Tetrahedron Lett., 1989, 30, 6955.
Kim, C. U.; Misco, P. F.; Luh, B. Y.; Hitchcock, M. J. M.; Ghazzouli, I.; Martin, J. C. J.
Lodewijk, E.; Han, Y-K; Schloemer, G. C.; Nguyen, S. L. Preparation of N-9 Substituted
Matsumoto, H.; Kaneko, C.; Yamada, K.; Takeuchi, T.; Mori, T.; Mizuno, Y. Chem.
Shapiro, Progr. Nucleic Acid Res. Mol. Biol. 1968, 8, 73-112. For a recent preparation,
see Chen, X.; Wang, Y. Chinese Journal of Pharmaceuticals, 1992, 23, 32-33.
Singh, D.; Wani, M. J.; Kumar, A. J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 4665-4668.
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Verheyden, J. P. H.; Martin, J. C. Process for Preparing Guanine Derivatives. U.S. Patent
Morgan, D. J.; Chapman, H. H. Alkoxy Methyl Ether and Alkoxy Methyl Ester
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