Patent ID: 8017803

Claim:
A process for producing 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)-ethylamino]-propyl}-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts thereof, which process comprises the steps: a) Reacting compound R,R-[2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-1-methyl-ethyl]-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-amine of formula II or a salt thereof with chlorosulfonic acid with or without an organic solvent, to obtain compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(1-phenyl-ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula III b) Hydrogenolysis of compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(1-phenyl-ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula III or a salt thereof carried out in an alcohol in the presence of a palladium catalyst using hydrogen or a source of hydrogen, to obtain compound R-(−)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV c) Reacting primary amine R-(−)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV, or a salt thereof, with a compound of formula V wherein X represents an halogen atom selected from the group consisting of Cl; Br and I, to obtain 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)-ethylamino]-propyl}-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid compound of formula VI d) Reacting compound of formula VI with an halogenating agent, to obtain the corresponding sulfonylchloride of formula VII, and e) Reacting compound VII with ammonia to obtain compound I.