Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
37 words
A method of treating leukemia, carcinoma, or lymphoma in an animal which comprises the step of administering to said animal a pharmaceutically effective amount of the formula (Ia) ##STR3## or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
37 words
A method of treating leukemia, carcinoma, or lymphoma in an animal which comprises the step of administering to said animal a pharmaceutically effective amount of the formula (Ia) ##STR3## or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
170 words
A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula (Ia) ##STR4## or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, which comprises the steps of: (a) oxidizing vinblastine or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof with chromic acid or an alkali metal dichromate at a temperature of -90° C. to -45° C. in the presence of a water-immiscible organic solvent in which alkaloids are readily soluble, acetic anhydride, glacial acetic acid, and ethanol in an amount up to 10% by volume of the water-immiscible organic solvent; (b) adjusting the pH of the oxidation reaction of step (a) to a range of 8 to 10 by adding an aqueous alkaline solution thereby forming an organic phase containing alkaloids and an aqueous phase at a temperature no higher than 50° C.; (c) separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase to leave an alkaloid mixture and driving the water-immiscible organic solvent therefrom; and (d) separating the desired product from the alkaloid mixture leaving behind a residue containing vincristine and N-desmethyl-vinblastine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula (Ia) ##STR4## or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, which comprises the steps of: (a) oxidizing vinblastine or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof with chromic acid or an alkali metal dichromate at a temperature of -90° C. to -45° C. in the presence of a water-immiscible organic solvent in which alkaloids are readily soluble, acetic anhydride, glacial acetic acid, and ethanol in an amount up to 10% by volume of the water-immiscible organic solvent; (b) adjusting the pH of the oxidation reaction of step (a) to a range of 8 to 10 by adding an aqueous alkaline solution thereby forming an organic phase containing alkaloids and an aqueous phase at a temperature no higher than 50° C.; (c) separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase to leave an alkaloid mixture and driving the water-immiscible organic solvent therefrom; and (d) separating the desired product from the alkaloid mixture leaving behind a residue containing vincristine and N-desmethyl-vinblastine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process defined in claim 2, step (a), wherein the ethanol is present in an amount between 0.1 to 3% relative to the volume of the water-immiscible organic solvent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process defined in claim 2, step (a), wherein the water-immiscible organic solvent is chloroform or methylene chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process defined in claim 2, step (b), wherein the aqueous alkaline solution is an aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process defined in claim 2, step (d), wherein the desired product is separated from the alkaloid product by thin layer chromatography.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process defined in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: (e) separating the vincristine from the N-desmethyl-vinblastine; and (f) formylating the N-desmethyl-vinblastine to yield additional vincristine.