Process for the preparation of ergotamine tartrate

Ergotamine tartrate is prepared by the reaction of ergotamine with d-tartaric acid in the presence of solvents; the ergotamine is dissolved in a 4:1 to 3:1 vol/vol mixture of methanol and dichloromethane at room temperature, the ergotamine remaining undissolved is optionally removed and the solution is treated with a methanolic solution of d-tartaric acid in a 2 to 5 mol % excess, the ergotamine tartrate being precipitated in crystalline form. Ergotamine tartrate, an important product in human therapy, is obtained in high yield and purity in this way.