33795-24-3

Ketamine is primarily metabolized to norketamine by hepatic CYP2B6 and CYP3A4-mediated N-demethylation. However, the relative contribution from each enzyme remains controversial. The CYP2B6*6 allele is associated with reduced enzyme expression and activity that may lead to interindividual variability in ketamine metabolism. We examined the N-demethylation of individual ketamine enantiomers using human liver microsomes (HLMs) genotyped for the CYP2B6*6 allele, insect cell-expressed recombinant CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 enzymes, and COS-1 cell-expressed recombinant CYP2B6.1 and CYP2B6.6 protein variant. Effects of CYP-selective inhibitors on norketamine formation were also determined in HLMs. The two-enzyme Michaelis-Menten model best fitted the HLM kinetic data. The Michaelis-Menten constants (Km) for the highaffinity enzyme and the low-affinity enzyme were similar to those for the expressed CYP2B6 and CYP3A4, respectively. The intrinsic clearance for both ketamine enantiomers by the high-affinity enzyme in HLMs with CYP2B6 *1/*1 genotype were at least 2-fold and 6-fold higher, respectively, than those for CYP2B6*1/ *6 genotype and CYP2B6*6/*6 genotype. The Vmax and Km values for CYP2B6.1 were approximately 160 and 70% of those for CYP2B6.6, respectively. N,N9N9-triethylenethiophosphoramide (thioTEPA) (CYP2B6 inhibitor, 25 μM) and the monoclonal antibody against CYP2B6 but not troleandomycin (CYP3A4 inhibitor, 25 μM) or the monoclonal antibody against CYP3A4 inhibited ketamine N-demethylation at clinically relevant concentrations. The degree of inhibition was significantly reduced in HLMs with the CYP2B6*6 allele (genedose P *6 allele on enzyme-ketamine binding and catalytic activity. Copyright

A concise, recyclable, and efficient process is presented for the preparation of (S)-ketamine (esketamine, (S)-1a) via classic resolution combined with the recycling of the undesired isomer. With commercially available ketone 2 as the starting material, this procedure features three steps including (1) an unique hydroxylation-ring expansion rearrangement, (2) mild amination via methanesulfonate, and (3) chiral separation using L-(+)-tartaric acid. The three simple steps are all performed in mild conditions and (S)-1a tartrate is obtained in 99.5percent ee without recrystallization. Subsequently, racemization of the unwanted (R)-1a remained in resolution mother liquor was performed in the presence of a Lewis acid in quantitative yield with >99.0percent chemical purity. This original and economical process afforded esketamine in 67.4percent (28.9percent without racemization) overall yield with two times recycling of the mother liquor without column purification. In addition, this procedure can also be applied to the preparation of (S)-norketamine, which is a safer potential antidepressant.

Provided are pamoate salts of ketamine having a stoichiometry of 2: 1 of ketamine to pamoate, including R, S-ketamine pamoate, S-ketamine pamoate, or R-ketamine pamoate, and crystalline or amorphous forms of the pamoate salts, and having excellent safety and properties for pharmaceutical applications. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions including the pamoate salts of ketamine and their uses in treating a CNS disease or serving as an anesthetic.

The first detailed description of the Lewis acid-catalyzed racemization of (R)-ketamine is reported. A process for racemization of the undesired (R)-ketamine enantiomer produced from the resolution for preparing the NMDA receptor antagonist (S)-ketamine was developed in quantitative yield with 99% chemical purity in the presence of a Lewis acid at 150 °C. Varying degrees of racemization were observed in the presence of various frequently used Lewis acids separately, and the catalytic efficiencies were arranged as follows: MgCl2 ≈ AlCl3 > FeCl3 > ZnCl2 > BF3 > CaCl2. The racemized ketamine was subsequently resolved using l-(+)-tartaric acid to obtain (S)-ketamine in 41% yield with 99.5% ee. Such a concise and cost-efficient approach for the racemization can be industrially useful to recycle the waste (R)-ketamine enantiomer into the resolution process to obtain (S)-ketamine.

The invention relates to a method for preparing R-ketamine and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for resolving a ketamine racemate to obtain R-ketamine, wherein a resolving agent adopt

Provided is a novel compound having rapid and long-lasting therapeutic effects on diseases exhibiting depressive symptoms. Specifically, provided are an agent for prevention and/or treatment of a depressive symptom, consisting of R(?)-ketamine or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition for prevention and/or treatment of a depressive symptom, comprising R(?)-ketamine or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof in an effective amount for reducing a depressive symptom, and being substantially free of S(+)-ketamine, and a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.