Abstract: There is described a process for the preparation of 5-carboxy phthalide, which comprises adding terephthalic acid to fuming sulfuric acid containing at least 20% of SO3, then adding formaldehyde to the mixture, heating the mixture at a temperature of 120-145° C. and isolating 5-carboxyphthalide from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of citalopram and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts therof is disclosed by reacting 5-cyanophthalide with a 4-fluorophenyl magnesium halide, reducing the 3-hydroxymethyl-4-(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzonitrile with an agent reducing ketones to alcohols, submitting the thus-obtained 3-hydroxymethyl-4-[(4-fluorophenyl)hydroxymethyl)benzonitrile to a cyclization reaction to give 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofurancarbonitrile without 1,1-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofurancarbonitrile and treating 1,1-bis(4 fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofurancarbonitrile with a 3-(dimetylamino)propyl halide in the presence of a base.

Abstract: There is described a process for the preparation of citalopram and of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, which comprises treating a 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5 isobenzofurancarbaldoxime, O-substituted preferably with a diphenylmethyl or triphenylmethyl group, with formic-acetic anhydride. Furthermore, the total synthesis of citalopram, as free base or in form of its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, starting from 5-formylphthalide is described.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of citalopram and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts therof is disclosed by reacting 5-cyanophthalide with a 4-fluorophenyl magnesium halide, reducing the 3-hydroxymethyl-4-(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzonitrile with an agent reducing ketones to alcohols, submitting the thus-obtained 3-hydroxymethyl-4-[(4-fluorophenyl)hydroxymethyl) benzonitrile to a cyclization reaction to give 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5isobenzofurancarbonitrile without 1,1-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofurancarbonitrile and treating 1,1-bis(4 fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofurancarbonitrile with a 3-(dimetylamino)propyl halide in the presence of a base.

Abstract: There is described a process for the preparation of 5-formylphthalide by hydrogenation of a halide of 5-carboxyphthalide, dissolved in a dipolar aprotic solvent, in the presence of a catalyst. Furthermore, the use of 5-formylphthalide in the preparation of citalopram is described.

Abstract: There is described a process for the preparation of citalopram and of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, which comprises treating a 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5 isobenzofurancarbaldoxime, O-substituted preferably with a diphenylmethyl or triphenylmethyl group, with formic-acetic anhydride. Furthermore, the total synthesis of citalopram, as free base or in form of its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, starting from 5-formylphthalide is described.

Abstract: There is described a process for the preparation of 5-formylphthalide by hydrogenation of a halide of 5-carboxyphthalide, dissolved in a dipolar aprotic solvent, in the presence of a catalyst. Furthermore, the use of 5-formylphthalide in the preparation of citalopram is described.

Abstract: There is described a process for the preparation of 5-carboxy phthalide, which comprises adding terephthalic acid to fuming sulfuric acid containing at least 20% of SO3, then adding formaldehyde to the mixture, heating the mixture at a temperature of 120-145° C. and isolating 5-carboxyphthalide from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: There is described a process for the preparation of 5-carboxy phthalide, which comprises adding terephthalic acid to fuming sulfuric acid containing at least 20% of SO3, then adding formaldehyde to the mixture, heating the mixture at a temperature of 120-145° C. and isolating 5-carboxyphthalide from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: There is described a process for the preparation of 5-carboxy phthalide, which comprises adding terephthalic acid to fuming sulfuric acid containing at least 20% of SO3, then adding formaldehyde to the mixture, heating the mixture at a temperature of 120-145° C. and isolating 5-carboxyphthalide from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: There is described a process for the preparation of 5-carboxy phthalide, which comprises adding terephthalic acid to fuming sulfuric acid containing at least 20% of SO3, then adding formaldehyde to the mixture, heating the mixture at a temperature of 120-145° C. and isolating 5-carboxyphthalide from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of citalopram or any of its enantiomers and acid addition salts thereof comprising treatment of a compound of formula (IV), wherein X is O or S; R1-R2 are each independently selected from hydrogen and C1-6 alkyl, or R1 and R2 together form a C2-5 alkylene chain thereby forming a spiro-ring; R3 is selected from hydrogen and C1-6 alkyl, R4 is selected from hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, a carboxy group or a precursor group therefore, or R3 and R4 together form a C2-5 alkylene chain thereby forming a spiro-ring, with a dehydration agent or alternatively where X is S, thermally cleavage of the thiazoline ring, or treatment in presence of a radical initiator, to form citalopram. The invention also relates to intermediates used in the new process for the preparation of citalopram, as well as citalopram prepared according to the new process.

Abstract: The present invention refers to process for the preparation of a tiazoline-azetidinone of formula I ##STR1## which comprises N-protecting in position 1 of (3S,4S)-3-phenylace tamido-4-acetoxy-azetidin-2-one, converting the product thus obtained into the corresponding thioamide and subsequently ciclyzing and deprotecting.

Abstract: The preparation of a novel crystalline cefaclor and the conversion of such a product to cefaclor monohydrate are described. The new intermediate cefaclor is a particular crystalline form and possesses the same antibiotic properties as cefaclor monohydrate.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a 3,6'-di-N-Acyl-1-[L-(-)-4-Acylamino-2-hydroxybutyryl] kanamycin A, wherein Acyl is a N-protecting acylating group, which comprises reacting kanamycin A with an aluminum salt in an inert organic solvent, treating the aluminum complex thus obtained with a N-acylating agent end acidifiying the reaction mixture, as such or after having removed the complexing aluminum in basic medium and isolated the 3,6'-di-N-Acyl-kanamycin A, to pH 6, treating the protonated 3,6'-di-N-Acyl-kanamycin A, in form of a salt thereof, with an active derivative of L-(-)-4-Acyl-amino-2-hydroxybutyric acid, wherein Acyl is a N-protecting group preferably identical with that which protects the amino groups in the positions 3 and 6' of kanamycin A, and isolating the product thus obtained by simple correction of the pH.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a 3,6'-di-N-Acyl-1-[L-(-)-4-Acylamino-2-hydroxybutyryl] kanamycin A, wherein Acyl is a N-protecting acylating group, which comprises reacting kanamycin A with an aluminum salt in an inert organic solvent, treating the aluminum complex thus obtained with a N-acylating agent and acidifiying the reaction mixture, as such or after having removed the complexing aluminum in basic medium and isolated the 3,6'-di-N-Acyl-kanamycin A, to pH 6, treating the protonated 3,6'-di-N-Acyl-kanamycin A, in form of a salt thereof, with an active derivative of L-(-)-4-Acyl-amino-2-hydroxybutyric acid, wherein Acyl is a N-protecting group preferably identical with that which protects the amino groups in the positions 3 and 6' of kanamycin A, and isolating the product thus obtained by simple correction of the pH.

Abstract: The preparation of a novel crystalline cefaclor and the conversion of such a product to cefaclor monohydrate are described. The new intermediate cefaclor is a particular crystalline form and possesses the same antibiotic properties as cefaclor monohydrate.

Abstract: There is described the preparation of halogenated .beta.-lactam derivatives by introduction of a chlorine atom in the 3-position of the cephem nucleus starting from a 3-sulfonyloxycephem. Such starting materials are reacted with a chlorine ions donor in a basic medium.

Abstract: Cefadroxil monohydrate is prepared by solubilizing 7-[D-(-)-.alpha.-benzyloxycarbonylamino-.alpha.-(p-hydroxyphenyl)acetamido ]-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid by silylation or by salification in an organic solvent, subjecting the solubilized acid in the solvent to catalytic hydrogenation, separating the catalyst from the solution, and adding water to the solution at a pH of about 4 to precipitate cefadroxil monohydrate.

Abstract: Cefatrizine 1,2-propylene glycolate is prepared by reacting p-hydroxyphenylglycine chloride hydrochloride with 7-amino-3-iodomethyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid, and then reacting the thus obtained novel intermediate, 7-[D(-)-.alpha.-amino-.alpha.-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-acetamido]-3-iodomethyl-3- cephem-4-carboxylic acid, with the sodium salt of 1,2,3-triazol-4(5)-thiol in 1,2-propylene glycol. The addition of water to the reaction mixture causes the cefatrizine, 1,2-propylene glycolate to precipate.