Patent ID: 6864379

Claim:
A method for the preparation of citalopram comprising reacting a compound of formula (I) wherein R represents CN, OH, O-triflate, halogen, NHR 5 wherein R 5 is hydrogen or C 1-6 alkylcarbonyl, CHO, CO 2 R 6 , CONHR 7 wherein R 6 and R 7 each independently are hydrogen or C 1-6 alkyl or R is a oxazoline or a thiazoline of the formula wherein U is O or S; R 1 -R 2 are each independently selected from hydrogen and C 16 alkyl, or R 1 and R 2 together form a C 2-5 alkylene chain thereby forming a spiro ring; R 3 is selected from hydrogen and C 1-6 alkyl; R 4 is selected from hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyl, a carboxy group or a precursor group therefor, or R 3 and R 4 together form a C 2-5 alkylene chain thereby forming a spiro ring; with reagents thereby obtaining a stepwise addition of the 3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl substituent.