Patent ID: 7714163

Claim:
A process for preparing a quaternary ammonium salt of a fibric acid corresponding to formula IV: wherein: R 1 is a chlorine atom, a 2-(4-chlorobenzoylamino)ethyl group, a 4-chlorobenzoyl group or a 2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl group, R 2 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl group or a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 hydroxyalkyl group, and R is a linear C 1 -C 3 alkyl group; said process being represented by the following reaction scheme: and said process being carried out as a one-pot reaction in a continuous procedure without any isolation of intermediates starting from: a phenol of formula (I), in which R 1 is as defined above, an α-halogenated ester of formula (II), in which X is a halogen and R a is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide of formula (III), in which R and R 2 are as defined above.