| abstract |
The (-) trans isomer of 4-(4'-fluorophenyl)-3-(3, 4'-methylenedioxyphenoxymethyl)-piperidine(paroxetine) according to formula (1) is used in therapy as the hydrochloride salt to treat inter alia depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic. There is described a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (1) or a phramaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in which R1 is a substituted phenyl group, the process comprising hydrolysing a solution of a carbamate of formula (2) in which R1 is as defined above and R2 is a C¿1-6? alkyl group, a C3-6 cycloalkyl group, aralkyl group, phenyl or substituted phenyl group; with a base by forming a finely divided complex derived from the base and the carbamate and heating it in suspension in a solvent. |