Chemistry
Baclofen, 4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butyric acid, is synthesized in two ways. According to the first, 4-chlorobenzaldehyde is condensed with two moles of acetoacetic ester, giving the product, which initially undergoes alkaline hydrolysis and decarboxylation forming 3-(4-chlorphenyl)glutaric acid. Dehydration of this gives 3-(4-chlorophenyl)glutaric acid anhydride, and further treatment with ammonia gives the corresponding glutarimide. Reacting this with an alkaline solution of a halogen (Hofmann rearrangement) gives baclofen.
The second way of synthesizing baclofen is started from ethyl ester of 4-chlorocinnamic acid. Adding nitromethane to this in the presence of base gives ethyl ester of β-(4-chlorophenyl)-γ-nitrobutyric acid, the nitro group of which is reduced by hydrogen over Raney nickel to the ethyl ester of β-(4-chlorophenyl)-γ-aminobutyric acid, which is further hydrolyzed into the desired baclofen.
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