Preparative resolution of etodolac enantiomers by preferential crystallization method

Abstract

Pure enantiomers are of large interest for several industries. This study was aimed to establish a method for separation of etodolac enantiomers by preferential crystallization after a conglomerate formation of its derivatives. S-(+)-etodolac and R-(-)-etodolac enantiomers were both prepared by classical resolution via crystallization of diastereoisomeric salt with (-)-brucine and (-)-cinchonidine. Enantiomeric purity of etodolac was determined by HPLC method using Chiralcel OD-H column. The pure diastereomeric salt collected from repeated recrystallization was further fractionated by liquid-liquid extraction to pure enantiomers. Etodolac enantiomers were recovered with overall yield more than 20% and the purities were over 99.9%.