Patent ID: 6855834

Claim:
A process for the preparation of citalopram of formula I in which 1 a compound of formula II wherein Z is iodo, bromo, chloro or CF 3 —(CF 2 ) n —SO 2 —O—; and n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8; is subjected to a cyanide exchange reaction in which the group Z is exchanged with cyanide by reaction with a cyanide source; the resultant crude citalopram product is optionally subjected to some initial purification and the crude citalopram base is subsequently subjected to a film distillation process, the resulting citalopram product is then optionally further purified, and worked up and 2 isolated as the product or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.