Toluene → Sertraline

Participants

Reaction Steps

N-[4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydro-1(2H) naphthalenylidene]methanamine (Ketimine) (50 g), toluene (300 ml), Raney Nickel (0.15 g wet basis) and o-dichlorobenzene (25 ml) are charged into a reaction vessel. The mixture is hydrogenated at 5 to 6 kg/cm2 over pressure of hydrogen for 6 to 7 hrs at about 28 to 30° C. The catalyst is removed by filtration and the cake is washed with 50 ml methanol. The cis to trans ratio is 75 to 80/25 to 20. The amount of dehalogenated by product is <0.1%. Sertraline racemate free base thus formed is treated with hydrochloric acid (24 ml, 33%) and predominantly isomer of sertraline HCl racemate is filtered [Cis>95%, trans<5%, dehalogenation product <0.1%, yield 0.80 to 0.82%].

Provenance & Evidence