Process for the preparation of rosuvastatin salts

A process for the preparation of rosuvastatin calcium salt of the Formula (II)

• wherein a two phase mixture of a water immiscible organic solvent and water, in a ratio of 5:1-5:4 (v/v), is added to the rosuvastatin tert-butyl ammonium salt of the formula (IV)
• at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C., then 0.45-0.50 molar equivalents of a calcium ion source is added, based on the amount of the used starting compound, the mixture is stirred for 0.01-10 hours at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C., then the organic and aqueous phases are separated, optionally the organic phase is washed once or several times with a solution of calcium salt and/or water or optionally the organic phase is dried with a desiccant, the organic phase is evaporated, and if desired, the water content of the obtained rosuvastatin calcium salt is reduced by a single or repeated addition and total or partial evaporation of an organic solvent, and optionally stirring the product with an apolar solvent, filtering the product, and optionally washing and drying the product.

A process for the preparation of rosuvastatin zinc salt of the formula (III)

• wherein a two phase mixture of a water immiscible organic solvent and water, in a ratio of 5:1-5:4 (v/v), is added to the rosuvastatin tert-butyl ammonium salt of the Formula (IV)
• at a temperature between 0° C. and 5° C., then 0.45-0.50 molar equivalents of zinc ion source are added for each mole of the starting compound, the mixture is stirred for 0.1-2 hours at a temperature between 0° C. and 50° C. the organic phase is separated, washed once or several times with a solution of a zinc salt and/or optionally with water or the organic layer is dried with a desiccant, evaporated, and if desired, the water content of the obtained rosuvastatin zinc salt is reduced by single or repeated addition and total or partial evaporation of an organic solvent optionally the thus obtained rosuvastatin zinc salt is stirred with an apolar organic solvent, filtering the product and optionally washing and drying the product.