New process for the synthesis of (7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-1-naphthalenyl)acetonitrile and its application in the synthesis of agomelatine

摘要

A process for the industrial synthesis of (7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-1-naphthalenyl)acetonitrile of formula (I) which is useful in the production of agomelatine, or N-[2-(7-methoxy-1-naphthyl)ethyl]acetamide is disclosed, wherein the process comprises an initial step of reacting 7-methoxy-1-tetralone of formula (IV) with cyanoacetic acid to yield (7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-1-naphthalenyl)acetonitrile of formula (I) after filtration and washing with a sodium hydroxide solution, the compound of formula (I) is then isolated in the form of a solid after recrystallisation.