2-Chloro-N-(2-chloro-4-methyl-3-pyridinyl)-3-pyridine carboxamide (50 g), trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (67.37 g), cyclopropylamine (40.43 g) were suspended in o-xylene (150 ml) and heated to 130-140° C. for 6-8 h in autoclave. Then the reaction mass was cooled to 70-75° C., diluted with o-xylene (250 ml) and DM water (150 ml) and stirred for 10 min at 70-80° C. The aqueous layer was separated and washed the organic layer with DM water (150 ml) at 70-80° C. The organic layer was concentrated at 60-65° C. under reduced pressure up to residual weight attained is approximately 200 g. The concentrated mass was cooled to 5-10° C. and stirred for 30 min. Filtered the solid obtained and washed with chilled o-xylene (50 ml, 5-10° C.). Dried the obtained solid at 55-60° C. under reduced pressure.
