Development of Efficient Manufacturing Process for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Epalrestat and its Derivatives in Continuous Flow Synthesis

An effective method for synthesis of the active pharmaceutical ingredient epalrestat in continuous or tubular flow circumstances with a high yield and a quick reaction time (10 min) has been reported. The reaction conditions for the aldol condensation reaction under tubular continuous flow technology by controlling light-sensitive degradation impurities was optimized. The developed method was more efficient, environmentally benign, time-economic, energy-saving, cost-efficient and also gives a reduction in process mass intensity in comparison with batch process.