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US 2011/0034727 A1Published application
Process for Preparing Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate
AssigneeNorac Pharma
InventorsJames Luchi, Daniel Levin
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are processes for preparing aqueous γ-hydroxybutyrate having a pH of about 8 or less (upon reaching equilibrium). The disclosed processes include both continuous processes and batch processes wherein the ratio of reactants is controlled to provide the product at the desired pH.
Claims45
A continuous process for preparing γ-hydroxybutyrate, the process comprising:
- (a) continuously feeding a first feedstock of γ-butyrolactone and a second feedstock of aqueous metal hydroxide into a reaction zone, at relative rates sufficient to maintain about 1 equivalent or less of metal hydroxide, relative to γ-butyrolactone, in the reaction zone;
- (b) continuously reacting the γ-butyrolactone and the metal hydroxide in the reaction zone to form aqueous γ-hydroxybutyrate;
- and (c) continuously discharging the aqueous γ-hydroxybutyrate from the reaction zone.
A continuous process for preparing γ-hydroxybutyrate, the process comprising:
- (a) continuously feeding a first feedstock of γ-butyrolactone and a second feedstock of aqueous metal hydroxide containing about 1 equivalent or less of metal hydroxide, relative to γ-butyrolactone, into a reaction zone;
- (b) continuously reacting the γ-butyrolactone and the metal hydroxide in the reaction zone to form aqueous γ-hydroxybutyrate;
- and (c) continuously discharging the aqueous γ-hydroxybutyrate from the reaction zone.
A batch process for preparing γ-hydroxybutyrate, comprising:
- reacting a metal hydroxide with γ-butyrolactone by slowly mixing about 1 equivalent or less of aqueous metal hydroxide with γ-butyrolactone, to form aqueous γ-hydroxybutyrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.