Patent ID: 7795472

Claim:
A process for producing 2-amino-2[2-[4-(3-benzyloxyphenylthio)-2-chlorophenyl]ethyl]-1,3-propanediol hydrochloride, comprising the steps of: reacting 4-(3-benzyloxyphenylthio)-2-chlorobenzaldehyde with ethyl diethylphosphonoacetate in a solvent in the presence of a base to form ethyl 3-[4-(3-benzyloxyphenylthio)-2-chlorophenyl]acrylate; reducing the resulting ethyl 3-[4-(3-benzyloxyphenylthio)-2-chlorophenyl]acrylate, followed by mesylation, iodination and nitration, to form 1-benzyloxy-3-[3-chloro-4-(3-nitropropyl)phenylthio]benzene; hydroxymethylating the resulting 1-benzyloxy-3-[3-chloro-4-(3-nitropropyl)phenylthio]benzene with formaldehyde to form 2-[2-[4-(3-benzyloxyphenylthio)-2-chlorophenyl]ethyl]-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol; and reducing the resulting 2-[2-[4-(3-benzyloxyphenylthio)-2-chlorophenyl]ethyl]-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol in the presence of a palladium catalyst to form the desired product.