Abstract: A pharmaceutical intermediate, N-[4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydro-1(2H)-naphthalenylidene]methanamine, which can be used in the production of sertraline hydrochloride, is conveniently prepared by reacting 4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydro-1-(2H)-naphthalenone with monomethylamine in a solvent which is an amide solvent with a structure of general formula IV: 1