Methods of making N-desmethylzopiclone

A method of treating or preventing a convulsive state in a patient, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from, or prone to suffer from, convulsions a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of treating or preventing spasticity or acute muscle spasms in a patient, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from spasticity or acute muscle spasms a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of treating or preventing an affective disorder in a patient, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from an affective disorder a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of treating or preventing a behavioral disorder in a patient, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from a behavioral disorder a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of treating or preventing schizophrenic disorder in a patient, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from schizophrenic disorder a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of treating or preventing aggressive behavior in a patient, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from aggressive behavior a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of treating or preventing alcohol or drug addiction in a patient, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from alcohol or drug addiction a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of treating or preventing abnormal plasma hormone levels in a patient, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from abnormal plasma hormone levels a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of treating or preventing a sleep disorder in a patient, which comprises administering to a patient suffering from a sleep disorder a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of treating or preventing a disease or condition or symptom thereof in a patient affected by the modulation of one or more central or peripheral benzodiazepine receptors, which comprises administering to said patient a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

An individual dosage form of N-desmethylzopiclone which comprises N-desmethylzopiclone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, or clathrate thereof.

A method of preparing N-desmethylzopiclone which comprises contacting zopiclone with an azodicarboxylate under conditions sufficient to form a product and hydrolyzing the product under mild conditions.

A method of preparing racemic N-desmethylzopiclone which comprises contacting racemic zopiclone with α-chloroethyl chloroformate to form a mixture and refluxing said mixture in methanol.

A method of preparing (+)-N-desmethyl zopiclone which comprises contacting (+)-zopiclone with α-chloroethyl chloroformate to form a mixture and refluxing said mixture in methanol.

A method of preparing (−)-N-desmethylzopiclone which comprises contacting (−)-zopiclone with α-chloroethyl chloroformate to form a mixture and refluxing said mixture in methanol.

A method of increasing the optical purity of zopiclone or desmethylzopiclone which comprises contacting zopiclone or desmethylzopiclone with L-N-benzyloxycarbonyl phenyl alanine in a water and ethanol solvent system, and isolating optically enriched zopiclone or desmethylzopiclone.