IN234267: Single pot process for the preparation of artemether from artemisinin

The invention provides a method for the preparation of artemether from artemisinin in one pot in just about 4 hours, comprising the reduction of artemisinin into dihydroartemisinic by less quantity of sodium borohydride in ethanol at room temperature in the presence of a novel polyhydroxy catalyst, acylation of dihydroartemisinic in the presence of an acid catalyst, extraction of artemether from an aqueous reaction mixture using 1% ethyl acetate in n-hexane followed by workup and purification of the impure artemether to yield 80-86% (w/w) pure alpha, beta artemether.