ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 54, Number 4
JKCSEZ 54(4)
August 20, 2010 

In this study, the improved large-scale synthetic route for epinastine hydrochloride, the second-generation antihistamine, was developed. The original synthetic route involves the synthesis of an aminomethyl derivative, the main intermediate, and in this process hazardous materials such as very toxic phosgene and sodium cyanide along with the explosive and expensive aluminum chloride and lithium aluminum hydride were used. In order to improve the synthetic route, we developed industrially very useful process to prepare the aminomethyl intermediate by the synthesis of the phthalimidomethyl derivative first and easy removal of the phthalyl group using hydrochloric acid or methyl hydrazine, and hazardous materials and expensive reagents were excluded in this process.