EP0000078A1

EP0000078A1 - Preparation of salts of hydroxyphosphinylureidobenzylpenicillins.

Info

Publication number: EP0000078A1
Application number: EP78200017A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Piet Johannes Akkerboom; Geertruida Johanna Löwer; Willem Jacob Timp
Original assignee: Gist Brocades NV
Current assignee: Gist Brocades NV
Priority date: 1977-06-01
Filing date: 1978-06-01
Publication date: 1978-12-20
Also published as: DE2860040D1; US4177189A; EP0000078B1; DK468680A; IT7868198A0; DK239278A; FI781686A; JPS543093A

Abstract

Process for the preparation of compounds of the general formula:-

wherein R is an optionally substituted phenyl group, Y is a group Me or a hydrocarbon group, Me is a metal cation and E is a hydrogen atom or a metal cation, which comprises

wherein 0 is a hydrogen atom or a silyl protecting group, Rz is a group R, with the proviso that any hydroxy groups present on the phenyl group are replaced by a group -OQz, wherein Qz is a group Q, but excluding hydrogen, and Ez is a carboxyl-protecting group, with a compound of the general formula:- wherein Z is a halogen atom and X is a group OY or a group Z, at low temperatures under anhydrous conditions and carefully hydrolysing the product obtained either with just enough water to remove protecting groups and hydrolyse groups Z to hydroxy groups and, still under anhydrous conditions, reacting the compound obtained with an organic metal salt carrying a metal cation Me or, in which case the organic solvent is water-insoluble, with an excess of whter, followed by washing the mixture acidified with water, extracting the organic phase with neutral water and forming a salt with a hydroxide or a salt carrying a salt-forming cation Me. High yields may be dbtained by this salt-formation method.

Description

THIS INVENTION relates to a new process for the preparation of salts of hydroxyphosphinylureidobenzylpenicillins.
Processes for the preparation of hydroxyphosphinylureidobenzylpenicillins are already known. For example, British Patent Specification No. 1,464,551 describes, in Example 26, the reaction of silylated D-6-(α-amino)-benzylcarboxaniido- penicillanic acid (ampicillin) with chloro(ethoxy)phosphinyl- isocyanate [C₂H₅O-P(O)(Cl)NCO] in an organic solvent at a temperature of -65 to -70°C. The reaction mixture obtained is poured into iced water, simultaneously being neutralised with aqueous sodium hydroxide. After extracting the aqueous phase of the two-phase system formed with an organic solvent, the extract is evaporated, yielding about 5.5% of D-6-[α-{3-hydroxy(ethoxy)-phosphinyl)-ureido} benzylcarboxamido] penicillanic acid. This compound may be converted into a salt which appears to be more stable than the acid, but nevertheless, the yield remains low, if calculated on the ampicillin compound used as starting material. Using the same method but. using as starting material D-7-(a-amino)-benzylcarboxamido-desacetoxycephalosporanic acid (cephalexin)' a much higher yield is obtained, being 61%, according to Example 30 of-the same Specification. The cephalosporin is apparently more stable than the corresponding penicillin.
The disodium salt of D-6-[α-{3-(Hydroxy(ethoxy)-phosphinyl)ureido}benzylcarboxamido]penicillanic acid may also be prepared by another process as described in Example 35 of the above-mentioned Specification. Silylated ampicillin is reacted with benzyloxy(ethoxy)phosphinyl-isocyanate [C₆H₅CH₂O(C₂H₅O)P-(O)NCO] and the compound formed, after separation, is reduced with hydrogen using palladium-on-charcoal as a catalyst, in the presence of sodium bicarbonate. Although this results in a much higher yield of the product, i.e. 50% based on the ampicillin starting material, the process has drawbacks in that palladium-on-charcoal is expensive and the reduction step takes a considerable length of time.
By using anhydrous D-6-(α-amino)-p-hydroxybenzyl- carboxamido-penicillanic acid (amoxicillin) as the starting material, as described in German "Offenlegungsschrift" No. 25 46 910, Example 5, it is possible to obtain the disodium salt of D-6-[a {3-(hydroxy(ethoxy)phosphinyl)ureido}-p-hydroxy- benzylcarboxamido] penicillahic acid using a similar reduction method, with palladium-on-charcoal as a catalyst. A yield of 74% is obtained, calculated on the starting amoxicillin compound. However, the use of the expensive catalyst is a drawback of this process.
It has now been found that attractive yields of salts of hydroxyphosphinylureidobenzylpenicillins can be obtained (e.g. yields of 50% or more) without use of the expensive palladium-on-charcoal catalyst by a process which is similar to that disclosed in the above mentioned British Patent Specification No. 1,464,551, Example 26, but in which some modifications are adopted.
The present invention accordingly provides a process for the preparation of compounds of the general formula:.
wherein R represents a phenyl group which may be substituted by one or two groups, which may be the same or different, selected from hydroxy, lower alkyl and lower alkoxy-groups, Y represents a group Me or a lower alkyl, aryl(lower)alkyl or aryl group, in which the aryl group may be substituted by one or more lower alkyl groups, Me represents a metal cation, preferably an alkali metal cation (e.g. sodium or potassium) or alkaline earth metal cation (e.g. calcium), and E represents a hydrogen atom or a metal cation, which may be .the same or different from the metal cation Me, characterized by reacting a compound of the general formula:-
wherein Q represents a hydrogen atom or a silicon atom carrying substituents selected from lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or lower alkoxyalkyl groups and halogen atoms (preferably a trimethylsilyl group), Rz has the same significance as R as hereinbefore defined, with the proviso that any hydroxy group(s) present on the phenyl group is (or are) replaced by a group -OQz, wherein Qz has the same significance as Q as hereinbefore defined but excluding hydrogen, and Ez represents a carboxyl-protecting group, e.g. a group Qz as hereinbefore defined, with a compound having the general formula:-
wherein Z represents a halogen, preferably a chlorine atom, and X represents a group OY, wherein Y is as hereinbefore defined, or a group Z as hereinbefore defined, at a temperature below o°C, preferably from about -900 to about -40°C, more preferably from about -80° to about -60°C, under anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent medium, e.g. methylene chloride or ethyl acetate and carefully hydrolysing the product thus obtained either with an amount of water just sufficient to remove any protecting groups present in the intermediate product and to hydrolyse the group(s) Z to hydroxy group(s) and, still under anhydrous or substantially anhydrous conditions, converting hydroxy group(s) formed by hydrolysis of group(s) Z into group.(s) OMe, wherein Me is as hereinbefore defined, by means of an organic acid salt having a salt-forming cation Me, preferably an alkanoic salt, the alkanoyl group of which contains 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 5 to 10 carbon atoms or, in which case the organic solvent used is one insoluble or substantially insoluble in water, with up to 100% excess, preferably 20 to 60% excess, of water, washing the mixture with water at a pH-value of 0 to 3, preferably 1 to 2, extracting the organic layer formed with water at a pH-value of 5 to 8, preferably 6.5 to 7.5. by means of adding a hydroxide or a salt having a salt-forming cation Me, thus converting hydroxy group(s) formed by hydrolysis of groups Z into groups OMe and Ez into Me, wherein Me is as hereinbefore defined.
The term "lower" as used in connection with alkyl and alkoxy groups means that the groups in question contain 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
The salt formation, when carried out in an organic medium, is preferably carried out in organic solvents having moderately polar properties, such as ethanol, butanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, methylene chloride or mixtures of two or more of these solvents. Examples of useful salts are salts of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acids, pentanoic acids, hexanoic acids, heptanoic acids, octanoic acids, stearic acids, etc. Preferably salts of 2-ethylhexanoic acid are used.
Due to the difference in pK a of the P-OH and COOH groups salt formation.on addition of an organic acid salt will at first take place exclusively at the P-OH group(s), whereupon the formed partial salt precipitates and because of this the carboxylate ion will not be formed. Therefore large amounts of the organic acid salt excessive to the amount calculated for salt formation of the P-OH group(s) are useless and should normally be avoided in order not to contaminate the final product unnecessarily. The precipitated partial salt is collected and converted into a di- or tri-salt, 'as the case may be, in any conventional manner, e.g. by means of aqueous sodium carbonate.
In the case the hydrolysed compound is washed with water before salt formation, care must be taken that the compound has been dissolved in an organic medium not or substantially not soluble in water, in order that the compound remains in the organic phase during this washing. Examples of suitable solvents are methyTene chloride, ethyl acetate, etc., but solvents like acetone should then be avoided. The water may be acidified by a solution of an inorganic salt, such as hydrochloric, phosphoric, nitric and sulphuric acid, etc. Hydrochloric acid is conveniently used. The salt formation afterwards may be effected by the use of solutions of a hydroxide or a salt of cations hereinbefore defined, such as sodium hydroxide.
The starting'compodnds of formula II may be prepared by methods known per se. The phosphinylisocyanates of formula III may be prepared, for example, as described by Narbut et al, Zh. Obshch. Khim. 38 (1968) page 1321 and Gubnitskaya et al, Zh. Obshch.Khim. (1970) page 1205.
By the term "methods known per se" as used in this specification is meant methods heretofore used or described in the chemical literature.
The cations E and Me are preferably non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable cations for penicillins, preferably sodium, potassium or calcium.
The starting penicillin compounds from which the compounds of general formula II are prepared contain a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic salt group and may contain other groups which may also interfere with the reaction. These groups are protected by a group Qz as hereinbefore defined by methods known per se. Preferably silyl esters are prepared by reacting the free carboxyl group with, e.g. trimethylchlorosilane, N,O-bistrimethylsilylacetamide, trimethylsilylacetamide, dimethyldichlorosilane, bistrimethylsilylurea, bistrimethyl- silylcarbamate or bistrimethylsilylsulphamate. When silylhalo compounds are used it is preferred to carry out the silylation reaction in the presence of an acid-binding compound such as triethylamine or ethylenediamine.
An advantage of the process of the present invention over methods previously disclosed in specifications as heretobefore mentioned for the preparation of hydroxyphosphinylureidobenzylpenicillins is that the reactions involved can all be carried out in one reaction vessel.
The compounds of general formula I prepared by the process of the invention, show antibiotic activity, as described in the afore-mentioned British Patent Specification No. 1,464,551 and German "Offenlegungsschrift" No. 25 46 910.
The invention is illustrated by the following Examples.

EXAMPLE 1

Preparation of the disodium salt and the sodium potassium double salt of D-6{α-[3-(hydroxy)(ethoxy)phosphinyl)-ureido-]-p-hydroxybenzylcarboxamwdo}penicillanic acid.
D-6-(a-amino)-P-hydroxybenzylcarboxamido penicillanic acid (amoxicillin) (36.9 g, 0.10 mole) is silylated with 53.4 ml (0.22 mole) of N,0-bistrimethylsilylacetamide in 250 ml of methylene chloride as solvent. After cooling the solution to about -70°C a solution of 17.g (0.10 mole) of (C₂H₅O)P0(Cl)NCO (ethylchlorophosphorusisocyanatidate) in 250 ml of dry acetone is added dropwise. After completion of the addition the mixture is stirred for 1t hours and a mixture of 5.8 ml (0.32 mole) of water, 8.1 ml (0.10 mole) of pyridine and 250 ml of dry acetone are added at a temperature of -70°C. The temperature of the reaction mixture is then allowed to rise quickly to -40°C and. then slowly to -10°C, during a period of 2 hours, in order to complete the hydrolysis of the chloride and protective silyl groups. 2 g of activated carbon are added and after stirring for 10 minutes the mixture is filtered. A solution of 16.8 g (0.10 mole) of sodium 2-ethylhexanoate in 200 ml of dry acetone is added to the filtrate at +5°C, and the mixture is stirred for 10 minutes at the same temperature, and for a further 15 minutes at ambient temperature. A precipitate is formed which is filtered off and suspended in 1½ litre of dry acetone..The mixture is stirred mechanically for 45 minutes and the precipitate is then filtered off. This operation is repeated, resulting in a much purer product. The precipitate from the repeated operation is suspended in 750 ml of water. The suspension is cooled by the exterior application of ice and nitrogen bubbled through the mixture, and the precipitate dissolved by the addition of 5.3 g of sodium bicarbonate at pH 6.8. By freeze- drying the solution 33 g (58%) of the title disodivm salt are obtained, containing only a trace of sodium 2-ethylhexanoate. The physicochemical properties of the compound obtained are as follows:-

IR (KBr-disc, values in cm^-1): about 3200-3600 (broad and intensive), 2975, 2930 (sh), 17659 ± 1650-1670, ± 1610, 1550 (sh), 1515, 1460, 1400, 1375 (sh), ± 1325, about 1240 (broad), 1180, 1135, 1085, 1050, 955, 900, 770.
PMR (about 5:1 mixture of d₆-DMSO and DC0₂D, DSS as reference, 6-values in ppm): 1.25 (centre of two close triplets, Jx7.5 cps), 1.46 (s) and 1.59 (s) all together 9H; about 3.75 to 4.1 (multiplet, 2H), 4.22 (s, 1H), 5.42 (s) and about 5.3 to 5.6 (broadened AB-q) together 3H; 6.65 to 7.35 (q-like, J ≈8.5 cps, 4H).

The sodium potassium double salt is prepared in the same manner, but instead of sodium 2-ethylhexanoate, 10 g (0.10 mole) of potassium acetate, dissolved in butanol, are added. A precipitate is formed slowly. The precipitate is treated with sodium bicarbonate in the manner described above, yielding 26 g (45%) of the title sodium potassium compound having physicochemical properties identical to those of the disodium salt given above.
The disodium salt may also be prepared by using a sodium stearate suspension in acetone, instead of the sodium 2-ethylhexanoate. A white powder is obtained consisting of the monosodium salt containing a fair amount of sodium stearate. 3.3 a of this product are suspended in 30 ml of water at 0°C. The suspension is cooled by the exterior application of ice and nitrogen is bubbled through the mixture. By addition of a 1 N sodium hydroxide solution, until a pH-value of 7 is obtained, the precipitate dissolves. 90 ml of ethanol and 1.2 g of activated carbon are added and the reaction mixture is stirred at 0°C for ½hour. The mixture is filtered and the filtrate is concentrated in vacae (bath temperature not exceeding 20°C), during which 2 portions of 80 ml of dry ethanol are added to remove as much water as possible. When concentrated to about 15 ml the residue is, with stirring, poured into a mixture of 55 ml of 2,2-dimethoxypropane and 120 ml of acetone. The resulting precipitate is filtered off, washed with acetone and dried in vacuo, yielding 2.4 g of the disodium title compound.

EXAMPLE 2

Preparation of the disodium salt of D-6-[α{-3-(hydroxy(ethoxy)phosphinyl)ureido} -p-hycroxybenzylcarboxamido] penicillanic acid.
D-6-(α-amino)-p-hydroxyberzylcarboxamidopenicillanic acid (amoxicillin) (108.5 g, 0.2975 mole) is silylated with 162.5 ml (0.655 mole) of N,0-bistrimethylsilylacetamide in 750 ml of methylene chloride. After cooling the solution to about -70°C a solution of 50.5 g (0,2975 mole) of ethylchlorophosphorusisocyanatidate in 750 ml of ethylacetate is added dropwise. After completion of the addition the mixture is stirred for 1½ hours and 25 ml (1.39 mole) of water and ₁ 1 of ethylacetate are added at a temperature of -70°C. The temperature is allowed to rise to -40°C in 1 hour and then to 0°C in 1½ hours. After separation of the layers the organic layer is washed twice with 200 ml of water. Then 600 ml 1N sodiumhydroxide are added slowly at a pH-value of 5 or slightly lower. After completion of the addition the pH-value of the waterlayer is brought to 7 with 1N sodium hydroxide in 1 hour. The solution is treated with 10 g of activated carbon,and, after filtration, concentrated in vacuo during which several portions of dry ethanol are added in order to remove as much water as possible. The residue is dissolved in 1½ of methanol and concentrated in the same manner to 750 ml after which ethanol is added slowly during the concentration, thus keeping the volume 750 ml, till almost all methanol is removed. The precipitate formed is filtered off, washed with ethanol and diethylether and dried in vacuo over phosphoruspentoxide, yielding 100 g (60%) of the disodium title comgound.

EXAMPLE 3

Preparation of the disodium salt of D-6-{α[3-hydroxy(ethoxy)phosphinyl)ureido] benzylcarboxamido}- penicillanic acid.
10.5 g (0.03 mole) of D-6-(α-amino)benzylcarbox- amidopenicillanic acid (ampicillin) is silylated with 9.6 ml (0.04 mole) of N,0-bistrimethylsilylacstamide in 50 ml of dry methylene chloride. The solution is cooled to -65°C and a solution of 5 g (0.03 mole) of (C₂H₅O)PO(Cl)NCO (ethylchlorophosphorusisocyanatidate) in 55 ml dry methylene chloride is added dropwise. The mixture is stirred for 75 minutes and then a mixture of 1.26 ml (0.07 mole) of water, 2.4 ml (0.03 mole) of pyridine and 30 ml of acetone is added. After completion of the addition the temperature is raised rapidly to -35°C and then slowly to 0°C over a period of time of 2 hours. A solution of 4.9 g (0.03 mole) of sodium 2-ethylhexanoate in 30 ml of dry acetone is added to the reaction mixture at 0°C and the mixture is stirred for 1½ hours, the temperature being allowed to rise to about ambient temperature. A precipitate is formed which is filtered off and suspended in 150 ml of dry acetone. The suspension is stirred for 45 minutes and the precipitate is filtered off. This procedure is repeated once and the precipitate obtained is suspended in 100 ml of water. The suspension is cooled with ice, 'nitrogen is bubbled through the mixture and the precipitate is dissolved by the addition of an amount of sodium bicarbonate just sufficient for the desired salt formation. The solution obtained is freeze-dried, resulting in a yield of 8.6 g (53%) of the title compound having the following physicochemical properties:-

IR (KBr-disc, values in cm^-1): ± 3550, ± 2600, ± 3320 and ± 3250, 1780, 1740-1710, 1640-1670, ± 1530 (intense), 1210, 1040, 700.
PMR (d6-DMSO, 60 Mc,δ -values in ppm, DSS as reference): ₁.₂ (t, J≈7.0 cps, 3H), 1.44 and 1.58 (6H), 3.95 (multiplet) and 4.24 (s) together 3H, about 5.5 (multiplet, J 5,6≈4.0 cps) and about 5.65 (d) together 3H, about 7.4 (5H), 7.7 (d, J≈8.5 cps), 7.9 (d, J≈7.5 cps), 9.15 (d, J≈7.5 cps).

EXAMPLE 4

Preparation of disodium salts of other hydroxyphosphinylureidobenzylpenicillins.
In a similar manner to that described in Example 1 or 3 the following compounds are prepared in yields varying from 35 to 65%:

Disodium salt of D-6-{α-[3-(hydroxy(methoxy)-phosphinyl)ureido]-p-hydroxybenzylcarboxamido} penicillanic acid having the following physicochemical properties:-IR (KBr-disc, values in cm^-1): about 328₀-3600 (broad and intensive), ± 2950 (sh), 1760, 1680 (sh), about 1645 to 1665, ± 1600, ± 1540, 1500, 1455, 1395, 1370 (sh), 1345 (sh), 1310-1330, 1215-1245, 1180 (sh), 1125, 1080 (intensive), 1045, 895, ± 770. PMR (about 5:1 mixture of d₆-DMSO and DC0₂D, 60 Mc, DSS as reference, δ-values in ppm): 1.47 and 1.59 (6H), -3.50 (d, J≈11.6 cps, 3H), 4.27 (s, 1H), 5.44 (s) and about 5.35 to 5.6 (broadened AB-q) together 3H, 6.7 to 7.35 (q-like, 4H).
Disodium salt of D-6- α-[3-(hydroxy(benzyloxy)-phosphinyl)ureid]-p-hydroxybenzylcarboxamido penicillanic acid having the following physicochemical properties:-IR (KBr-disc, values in cm^-1); about 3100-3600, shoulders at ± 3050, 2970 and 2935, 1765, 1690 (sh), 1640-1660, 1595-1615, ± 1550 (sh), 1515, 1455, 1400, 1380 (sh), 1320-1340, 1220-1260, 1180, 1135, 1090 (intensive), 1010-1035, 985, 900, 870, 845, 750, 710. PMR (about 4:1 mixture of d₆-DMSO and DC0₂D, 60 Mc, DSS as reference, δ-values in ppm): 1.48 and 1.60 (6H), 4.26 (s, 1H), 4.86 (d, J≈7.0 cps, 2H), 5.45 (s) and 5.35 to 5.60 (AB-q, J≈4.0 cps) together 3H); 6.65 to 7.3 (q-like, J≈8.2 cps) and about 7.35 together 9H.
Thin layer chromatography Rf about 0.9 (UV positive) (silica, 95:5:5 mixture of metharnol,acetic acid and water).
Disodium salt of D-6-{α-[3-(hydroxy(phenoxy)-phosphinyl)ureido]-p-hydroxybenzylcarboxamido}penicillanic acid having the following physicochemical properties:-IR (KBr-disc, values in cm^-1): 3400, 1780, 1660, 1610, 1520, 1400, 1320, 1220, 1140, 1060, 780, 700. PMR (mixture of d₆-DHSO and DCO₂D, δ-values in ppm, TMS as reference): 1.45 (s, 3H), 1.58 (s, 3H), 4.25 (s, 1H), 5.3-' 5.6 (multiplet, 3H), 6.75 (d, 2H) and 7.1-7.4 (multiplet, 7H).

The physicochemical properties of the three above-mentioned compounds are identical to those of the compounds prepared in Examples 5, 6 and 10 respectively of German "Offenlegungsschrift" No. 25-46 910.

EXAMPLE 5

Preparation of the trisodium salt of D-6-{α[3-(dihydroxyphosghinyl)ureido]-p-hydroxybenzylcarboxamido}- penicillanic acid.
D-6-(α-amino)-p-hydroxybenzylcarboxarvidopenicilla- nic acid (amoxicillin) (2.17 g, 5.95 mmoles) is silylated with 3.24 ml (13_.1 mmoles) of N.0-bistrimethylsilylacetamide in 15 ml of methylene chloride as a solvent. After cooling the solution to about -75°C a solution of 0.95 g (5.95 mmoles) of dichlorophosphorusisocyanatidate in 15 ml of ethyl acetate is added dropwise in one hour. After completion of the addition the mixture is stirred for 1½ hours and a mixture of 0.96 ml (11.9 mmoles) of pyridine and 15 ml of ethyl acetate is added, followed by the addition of 0.69 ml (38 mmoles) of distilled water at a temperature of -70°C. The temperature of the reaction mixture is allowed to rise to -40°C in one hour and from 40° to 0°C in 1½ hours. At that temperature the reaction mixture is washed 3 times with 25 ml portions of acidified watsr at a pH-value of ₁.5. Then 25 ml of water are added and the pH-value is brought slowly to 7 with 1N sodium hydroxide. The layers formed are separated and the aqueous layer is freeze-dried, yielding 3.0 g of a powder of the title compound, having a purity of 80%.

Claims

1. Process for the preparation of compounds of the general formula:-

wherein R represents a phenyl group which may be substituted by one or two groups, which may be the same or different, selected from hydroxy, lower alkyl and lower alkoxy groups, Y represents a group Me or a lower alkyl, aryl(lower)alkyl or aryl group, in- which the aryl group may be substituted by one or more alkyl groups, Me represents a metal cation and E represents a hydrogen atom or a metal cation, which may be the same or different from the metal cation Me, characterized by reacting a compound of the general formula:-

wherein Q represents a hydrogen atom or a silicon atom carrying substituents selected from lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or lower alkoxyalkyl groups and halogen atoms, Rz has the same significance as R as hereinbefore defined, with the proviso that any hydroxy group(s) present on the phenyl group is (or are) replaced by a group -OO₂; whereir O₂ has the same significance as Q as hereinbefore defined, but excluding hydrogen, and Ez represents a carboxyl-protecting group, with a compound of the general formula:-

wherein Z represents a halogen atom, and X represents a group OY, wherein OY is as hereinbefore defined, or a group Z as hereinbefore defined, at a temperature below 0°C under anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent medium and carefully hydrolys- ing the product thus obtained either with an amount of waters just sufficient to remove any protecting groups present in the intermediate product and to hydrolyse the group(s) Z to hydroxy group(s) and, still under anhydrous or substantially anhydrous conditions, converting hydroxy group(s) formed by hydrolysis of group(s) Z into group(s) OMe, wherein Me is as hereinbefore defined, by means of an organic acid salt having a salt-forming cation Me, preferably an alkanoic salt, the alkanoyl group of which contains 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 5 to 10 carbon atoms or, in which case the organic solvent used is one insoluble or substantially insoluble in water, with up to 100% excnss, preferably 25 to 60% excess, of water, washing the mixture with water at a pH-value of 0 to 3, preferably 1 to 2, extracting the organic layer formed with water at a pH-value of 5 to 8 by means of adding a hydroxide or a salt having a salt-forming cation Me, thus converting hydroxy group(s) formed by hydrolysis of groups Z into groups OMe and Ez into Me, wherein Me is as hereinbefore defined.

2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature for reacting compound (II) with compound (III) is kept at -90° to -40°C, preferably at -80° to -60°C.

3. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that Q represents a trimethylsilyl group.

4. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that Z represents a chlorine atom.

5. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that E and Me represent an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal cation, preferably a sodium, potassium or calcium cation.

6. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the organic acid salt having a salt-forming cation Me is an alkanoic acid salt, the alkanoyl group of which containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 5 to 10 carbon atoms.

7. Process according to claim 6, characterized in that the organic acid salt is a salt of acetic, propionic, a butyric, a pentanoic, a hexanoic, a heptanoic, an octanoic or stearic acid, preferably 2-ethylhexanoic acid.

8. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the salt formation is carried out in an organic solvent having moderately polar properties.

9. Compound of general formula (I), wherein the symbols have the significance as hereinbefore defined, obtained by means of the process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.