Study on improvement of output of semi-synthesis of artemether

ABSTRACT

Beta-Artemether (12beta-O-menthyldihyroartemisinin), a potent antimalarial drug has been synthetised from dihydroartemisinin using nonpolar waterimmiscible solvents and boron trifluorid etherate as a catalyst. Using this methods we always obtain a mixture of beta and alpha artemether with the ratio from 3/1 to 4/1 and the yield of beta-artemether is about 60%. Using polar waterimmiscible solvents in place of nonpolar waterimmiscible solvents in the synthesis can improve the ratio of beta/alpha artemether to 20/1 and the yield of beta-artemether increase to about 70% beta-artemether.