Continuous Synthesis of Cinnarizine Salt with Malic Acid by Applying Green Chemistry Using Water-Assisted Twin Screw Extrusion.

Organic solvent-free process or green chemistry is needed for manufacturing pharmaceutical salts to avoid various environmental, safety, and manufacturing cost issues involved. In this study, a cinnarizine (CNZ) salt with malic acid at a 1:1 molar ratio was successfully prepared by twin screw extrusion (TSE) with water assistance. The feasibility of salt formation was first evaluated by screening several carboxylic acids by neat grinding (NG) and liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) using a mortar and pestle, which indicated that malic acid and succinic acid could form salts with CNZ. Further studies on salt formation were conducted using malic acid. The examination by hot-stage microscopy revealed that the addition of water could facilitate the formation and crystallization of CNZ-malic acid salt even though CNZ is poorly water-soluble. The feasibility of salt formation was confirmed by determining the pH-solubility relationship between CNZ and malic acid, where a pHmax of 2.7 and a salt solubility of 2.47 mg/mL were observed. Authentic salt crystals were prepared by solution crystallization from organic solvents for examining crystal properties and structure by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, solid-state 13C and 15N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXD). These techniques also established that a salt, and not a cocrystal, was indeed formed. The CNZ salt crystals were then prepared by TSE of a 1:1 CNZ-malic acid mixture, where the addition of small amounts of water resulted in a complete conversion of the mixture into the salt form. The salts prepared by solvent crystallization and water-assisted TSE had identical properties, and their moisture sorption profiles were also similar, indicating that TSE is a viable method for salt preparation by green chemistry. Since TSE can be conducted in a continuous manner, the results of the present investigation, if combined with other continuous processes, suggest the possibility of continuous manufacturing of drug products from the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to the production of final dosage forms.

Continuous-Flow Multistep Synthesis of Cinnarizine, Cyclizine, and a Buclizine Derivative from Bulk Alcohols.

Cinnarizine, cyclizine, buclizine, and meclizine belong to a family of antihistamines that resemble each other in terms of a 1-diphenylmethylpiperazine moiety. We present the development of a four-step continuous process to generate the final antihistamines from bulk alcohols as the starting compounds. HCl is used to synthesize the intermediate chlorides in a short reaction time and excellent yields. This methodology offers an excellent way to synthesize intermediates to be used in drug synthesis. Inline separation allows the collection of pure products and their immediate consumption in the following steps. Overall isolated yields for cinnarizine, cyclizine, and a buclizine derivative are 82, 94, and 87 %, respectively. The total residence time for the four steps is 90 min with a productivity of 2 mmol h(-1) .

Identification of the rat liver cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in the metabolism of the calcium channel blocker dipfluzine hydrochloride.

This study aimed to identify the specific cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes involved in the metabolism of dipfluzine hydrochloride using the combination of a chemical inhibition study, a correlation analysis and a panel of recombinant rat CYP450 enzymes. The incubation of Dip with rat liver microsomes yielded four metabolites, which were identified by liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The results from the assays involving eight selective inhibitors indicated that CYP3A and CYP2A1 contributed most to the metabolism of Dip, followed by CYP2C11, CYP2E1 and CYP1A2; however, CYP2B1, CYP2C6 and CYP2D1 did not contribute to the formation of the metabolites. The results of the correlation analysis and the assays involving the recombinant CYP450 enzymes further confirmed the above results and concluded that CYP3A2 contributed more than CYP3A1. The results will be valuable in understanding drug-drug interactions when Dip is coadministered with other drugs.

Palladium-catalyzed vinylation of aminals with simple alkenes: a new strategy to construct allylamines.

A novel, highly selective palladium-catalyzed vinylation reaction for the direct synthesis of allylic amines from styrenes and aminals has been established. The utility of this method was also demonstrated by the rapid synthesis of cinnarizine from aldehydes, amines, and simple alkenes in one-pot manner. Mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction proceeds through a valuable cyclometalated Pd(II) complex generated by the oxidative addition of aminal to a Pd(0) species.

Novel self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) for oral delivery of cinnarizine: design, optimization, and in-vitro assessment.

Due to its extreme lipophilicity, the oral delivery of cinnarizine (CN) encounters several problems such as poor aqueous solubility and pH-dependent dissolution, which result in low and erratic bioavailability. The current study aims to design self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) of CN that circumvent such obstacles. Equilibrium solubility of CN was determined in a range of anhydrous and diluted lipid-based formulations. Dynamic dispersion tests were carried out to investigate the efficiency of drug release and magnitude of precipitation that could occur upon aqueous dilution. Droplet sizes of selected formulations, upon (1:1,000) aqueous dilution, were presented. The optimal formulations were enrolled in subsequent dissolution studies. The results showed that increasing lipid chain length and surfactant lipophilicity raised the formulation solvent capacity, while adding co-solvents provoked a negative influence. The inclusion of mixed glycerides and/or hydrophilic surfactants improved the drug release efficiency. Generally, no significant precipitation was observed upon aqueous dilution of the formulations. Five formulations were optimal in terms of their superior self-emulsifying efficiency, drug solubility, dispersion characteristics, and lower droplet size. Furthermore, the optimal formulations showed superior dissolution profile compared to the marketed (Stugeron®) tablet. Most importantly, they could resist the intensive precipitation observed with the marketed tablet upon shifting from acidic to alkaline media. However, SNEDDS containing medium-chain mixed glycerides showed the highest drug release rate and provide great potential to enhance the oral CN delivery. Accordingly, the lipid portion seems to be the most vital component in designing CN self-nanoemulsifying systems.

[Synthesis and spectral characteristic of pharmaceutical dipfluzine hydrochloride-benzoic acid co-crystal].

Pharmaceutical co-crystals can improve the chemical and physical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), which is new idea and expected to provide new stable structures. Pharmaceutical co-crystals have the potential to be much more useful in pharmaceutical products than salts, solvates or hydrates, polymorphs and stoichiometric solvates (pseudo-polymorphs). In our study, dipfluzine hydrochloride-benzoic acid co-crystal was synthesized by solid co-grinding. The samples were subjected to IR, DSC, XRD, Raman and THz spectral analysis. The results indicated that dipfluzine hydrochloride-benzoic acid complex was new phase compared with the single API and CCF. THz-TDS characterization indicated that hydrogen bond formed between API and CCF, which confirmed the formation of co-crystal.