Patent ID: 6849749

Claim:
A method for the preparation of citalopram comprising the steps of: a) subjecting a compound of Formula IV: wherein R is a group: wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from lower alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl, or R 1 and R 2 together with the N-atom to which they are linked form a 5- or 6-membered ring optionally comprising an S, O or N atom in addition to the N-atom to which R 1 and R 2 are attached, or R is 4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl optionally substituted in the 4- and or 5-position with one or more lower alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl groups to reductive hydrolysis, and b) converting the resulting 5-formyl compound of Formula V: to the corresponding 5-cyano compound, citalopram: which is isolated as the base or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.