Patent ID: 7989645

Claim:
(S)-(+)-1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofuran carbonitrile or Escitalopram with chiral purity greater than 99.8% obtained without chiral chromatographic separation of (±)-1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofuran carbonitrile in more than 50% yield based on the S-enantiomer of the compound of formula IVa, wherein Z is a cyano group or a group that may be converted to a cyano group selected from the group consisting of halogen, —OH, —CHO, —CH 2 OH, —CH 2 NH 2 , —CH 2 NO 2 , —CH 3 , —CH 2 Cl, —CH 2 Br, —NHR 2 , —COOR 3 , —CONR 3 R 4 , and CF 3 —(CF 2 ) n —SO 2 —O— wherein n is 0-8, R 2 is hydrogen or C1 to C6 alkylcarbonyl and R 2 and R 3 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkyl or aryl and, a group of formula VII: wherein Y is O or S; R 5 and R 6 are each independently selected from hydrogen and C1 to C6 alkyl or R 5 and R 6 together form a C2 to C5 alkylene chain thereby forming a spiro ring; R 7 is selected from hydrogen, C1 to C6 alkyl, R 8 is selected from hydrogen, C1 to C6 alkyl, a carboxy group or a precursor group thereof, or R 7 and R 8 together form a C2 to C5 alkylene chain thereby forming a spiro ring.