Crystalline Forms of (-)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol Hydrochloride

Abstract

A hitherto unknown crystalline form of (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride, pharmaceutical compositions containing the new crystalline form, methods of producing the new crystalline form, and a related method of use including treatment of, e.g., pain and/or urinary incontinence.

1 . A process for producing a (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of crystalline Form A, said process comprising:
 dissolving a (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of crystalline Form B in acetone, acetonitrile or isopropanol to form a solution; 
 leaving the solution to crystallize and 
 isolating crystals of (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of crystalline Form A. 
 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of Form B is dissolved in acetonitrile, and further comprising the steps of:
 stirring the solution; 
 removing insoluble residue by filtering and 
 evaporating the acetonitrile leaving (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of Form A to crystallize. 
 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of crystalline Form B is dissolved in isopropanol at temperatures above room temperature, and after complete dissolution no further heat is provided and further comprising: adding seed crystals of (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of crystalline Form A and then cooling the mixture down to ≦15° C. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of crystalline Form B is dissolved in isopropanol at a temperature above 65° C. but not exceeding 80° C. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said mixture is cooled down to ≦10° C. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said mixture is cooled down to ≦5° C. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising redissolving the (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of crystalline Form A in a solvent selected from acetone, acetonitrile and isopropanol, then optionally filtering the solution to remove any insoluble residue and optionally reducing the amount of solvent by evaporation, then allowing the solution to crystallize. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein said solvent is the same as that used to form the (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of crystalline Form A before the step of redissovling. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein during the step of allowing the solution to crystallize, the temperature is maintained at ≦15° C. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein during the step of allowing the solution to crystallize, the temperature is maintained at ≦10° C. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein during the step of allowing the solution to crystallize, the temperature is maintained at ≦5° C. 
     
     
         12 . A crystalline Form A of (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride produced by the process of:
 dissolving (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of Form B in acetonitrile together with active carbon, 
 heating the solution to the boiling point, 
 removing the active carbon by filtering, 
 stirring the solution at a temperature below 40° C., 
 removing insoluble residue by filtering and removing part of the solvent, 
 leaving (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of Form A to crystallize, 
 redissolving the resulting crystals in acetonitrile, 
 removing insoluble residue by filtering and removing part of the solvent, and 
 leaving (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of Form A to crystallize. 
 
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a crystalline Form A of (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride exhibiting at least X-ray lines (2-theta values) in a powder diffraction pattern when measured using Cu K α  radiation at 15.1±0.2, 16.0±0.2, 18.9±0.2, 20.4±0.2, 22.5±0.2, 27.3±0.2, 29.3±0.2 and 30.4±0.2, and at least one suitable additive or auxiliary substance. 
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a crystalline Form A of (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride produced by the process of
 dissolving (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of Form B in acetonitrile together with active carbon, 
 heating the solution to the boiling point, 
 removing the active carbon by filtering, 
 stirring the solution at a temperature below 40° C., 
 removing insoluble residue by filtering and removing part of the solvent, 
 leaving (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of Form A to crystallize, 
 redissolving the resulting crystals in acetonitrile, 
 removing insoluble residue by filtering and removing part of the solvent, and 
 leaving (−)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)-phenol hydrochloride of Form A to crystallize, and 
 at least one suitable additive or auxiliary substance.