Appeal No. 2002-1093 Page 2
Application No. 09/288,691
fluid, is an endogenous substance that regulates meiosis, to which advantageous
hormonal effects are attributed. Accordingly, this substance is of importance for
pharmaceutical applications, e.g., for promoting fertility.
At the time applicants' invention was made, a first synthesis of this natural
substance was known in the art and described by Dolle et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1989,
III: 278). In that synthesis, FF-MAS is obtained in 18 steps at great cost, starting from
ergosterol (specification, paragraph bridging pages 1 and 2).
Another synthesis of FF-MAS, starting from dehydrocholesterol and carried out
in 13 steps, was described by Schroepfer et al. (Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1997, 8:
233) (specification, page 2, first full paragraph).
Applicants have developed new processes for the synthesis of FF-MAS. As
stated in the specification, page 2, last paragraph:
By the two processes according to the invention, considerably
fewer intermediate steps take place than within the known syntheses [sic]
of Dolle et al. The number of purification steps is considerably lower, and
no technically complex devices, such as an ozone generator with the
facilities that are necessary for its operation, are required.
Applicants' "process variant 1" is described at length in the specification, pages 3
through 13; and illustrated in diagram 1 at page 11. Likewise, "process variant 2" is
described in the specification, pages 13 and 14; and illustrated in diagram 2 at page 14.
Additionally, "process variant 1" is the subject of example 2 (specification, pages 22
through 26); and "process variant 2" is the subject of example 1 (specification, pages
15 through 21).
This application contains allowed claims. Claim 1 recites a multi-step process for
preparing FF-MAS, including all of the steps illustrated in diagram 1 (specification, page
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