Optimization of the Everolimus Intermediate Preparation Process: Impurity Identification Followed by One-Pot Transformation to the Desired Product

Abstract

An investigation of the everolimus intermediate PG-EVR preparation process resulted in the identification of three impurities PG-D,E,F constantly formed as byproducts in large amounts. Their structures were reliably established based on two-dimensional (2D) NMR and liquid chromatography–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS/MS) data as dialkylated rapamycin derivatives. Finding that one of these impurities PG-E is hydrolyzable to the target everolimus intermediate resulted in optimized technology based on changing the selectivity of byproduct formation to PG-E as the major one followed by its one-pot quantitative transformation to PG-EVR. The yield of the everolimus intermediate increased by 10% under mild conditions, while lower amounts of reagents and solvents were required. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) that meets the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia was prepared from thus obtained intermediate with no need for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification, indicating a significant increase in the efficiency of large-scale production using new technology.