Patent ID: 7994314

Claim:
A method for the preparation of a cyclic compound according to Formula IIIa, comprising reacting 2-amino-3-benzylpyridine according to Formula lb and a compound according to Formula II, wherein, Z 1 and Z 2 are leaving groups, or together form oxygen creating the corresponding aldehyde; X is a hydrocarbon having a carbon atom attached to the central carbon atom of formula II, comprising a reactive functional group and optionally a nitrogen atom, chosen in view of one or more subsequent reaction steps starting from the compound according to Formula IIIa to a ring closure to form mirtazapine; or X is —CO-Q or —CH 2 -Q, wherein Q is a hydrogen, or halogen, or a hydrocarbon substituent optionally comprising a nitrogen atom, or Q is —NHR or —OR wherein R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon substituent.