A Novel Synthetic Method for Bepotastine, a Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonist

An efficient and alternative synthesis of enantiomerically pure (+)-(S)-4-(4-((4-chlorophenyl)(pyrid-2-yl(methoxy]piperidin-1-yl)butanoic acid, bepotastine (1) is described. The key resolution of (R/S)-bepotastine l-menthyl ester (3) is achived via diastereomeric salt crystallization using N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid (NCbzLAA) as the resolving agent to provide (S)-bepotastine l-menthyl ester (S)-3. Hydrolysis of (S)-bepotastine l-menthyl ester (S)-3 afforded the desired bepotastine (1) with good yields and enantiopurity (> 99%). Finally, bepotastine besilate (4) and bepotastine calcium (5) are achived by salt formation of bepotastine (1) with benzene sulfonic acid and calcium salt respectively. The reaction conditions were optimized to make suitable for commercial scale production.