Processes for preparing calcium salt forms of statins

Abstract

Processes for preparing a calcium salt of a statin from an ester derivative or protected ester derivative of the statin by using calcium hydroxide are provided. The ester or protected ester derivative is contacted with calcium hydroxide to obtain the calcium salt. Preferred statins are rosuvastatin, pitavastatin and atorvastatin, simvastatin and lovastatin. In processes beginning with a protected statin ester derivative, the protecting group is hydrolyzed during salt formation by contact with calcium hydroxide, or is contacted with an acid catalyst followed by contact with calcium hydroxide.

1 . A process for preparing a calcium salt of a statin having the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R represents and organic radical, comprising contacting an ester derivative of the statin selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       with a sufficient amount of calcium hydroxide, wherein R 1  is a C 1  to a C 8  alkyl group, and R 2 , R 3  and R 4  each independently represent hydrogen, or the same or different hydrolyzable protecting group, or R 2  and R 3 , together with the oxygen atom to which each is bonded, form a hydrolyzable cyclic protecting group.  
     
     
         2 - 42 . (canceled)