PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF [4(S,R)-(3,4-DICHLOROPHENYL)-3,4-DIHYDRO-1(2H)-NAPHTHALEN-1-YLIDENE]METHYLAMINE

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for making substantially pure racemic sertraline or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts having a cis/trans ratio of greater than about 85: 15% and which is substantially free of its deschloro impurities. The process comprises catalytically hydrogenation (Schiff base compound) in the presence of amine salt or amide salt or mixture of amine salt and amide salt using a catalyst selected from the group consisting of palladium and platinum.