Patent ID: 8889896

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a sulfonic acid ester of 2-(4-bromomethyl)phenoxy ethanol (formula 18) useful as an intermediate in the preparation of 1-{4-[2-(azepan-1-1)ethoxy]benzyl}-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-indol-5-ol comprising (a) treating 4-(2-hydroxyethyloxy)benzaldehyde (formula 15) with the sulphonic acid chloride in a dichloromethane solvent and a triethylamine organic base and after suitable work up isolate the sulphonic acid ester (formula 16), (b) treating the ester so obtained with a metal hydride reducing agent, in a suitable solvent to obtain the sulphonic acid ester of 2-(4-hydroxymethyl) phenoxy ethanol (formula 17), (c) reacting the product so obtained from step (b) with phosphorus tribromide in dichloromethane and after suitable work up isolating the sulfonic acid ester of 2-(4-bromomethyl)phenoxy ethanol (formula 18),