Highly Steroselective Synthesis of Sertraline

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for highly stereoselective synthesis of sertraline and sertraline intermediate. Thus, the mixture of 4-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydro-N-methyl-1(2H)-naphthalenimine, 5% Pd/CaCO₃, water and methanol is taken in a hydrogenation flask and then subjected to hydrogenation under a hydrogen pressure of 0.5 Kg at 20-35° C. for 3 hours 30 minutes. The catalyst is removed by filtration and the solvent is evaporated completely under vacuum to obtain cis-(±)-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-N-methyl-naphthalen amine. (trans-(±): 0.2).