| abstract |
A method for the preparation of citalopram, comprising the steps of: a) reducing a compound of ** formula ** in which R 1 is CN, C 1-6 alkyl-oxycarbonyl or C 1-6 alkyl-aminocarbonyl; b) effecting the closure of the compound resulting from ** formula ** in which R1 is defined as before, obtaining a compound of ** formula ** in which R1 is defined as before, c) later, if R1 is cyano, use the compound of ** formula ** directly in the next step and if R1 is C1-6 alkyl-oxycarbonyl, or C1-6 alkylcarbonyl, convert the compound of ** formula ** into the corresponding compound, in which R1 is cyano; and d) renting the resulting 5-cyano compound of ** formula ** (R1 = CN) with 3-dimethylaminopropyl halide under basic conditions, whereby citalopram is obtained, which is isolated as the base or as one of its pharmaceutically active salts. acceptable. |