Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for the production of [2-(4-fluoro-benzyl)-phenyl]-acetic acid, a compound obtainable from phthalic anhydride. The process comprises the subsequent steps a) through e): a) reacting phthalic anhydride with fluorobenzene or a derivative thereof in appropriate reaction conditions; b) over reducing the product obtained in step a) at the ketone moiety; c) reducing the product obtained in step b) with sodium dihydro-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminate (Red-Al) to the corresponding alcohol; d) chlorinating the alcohol obtained in step c); e) inserting CO into the product obtained in step d) through an appropriate Pd-containing catalytic system. In an alternative embodiment, the step e) is replaced by the steps f1) and f2): f1) reacting the product obtained in step d) with sodium cyanide; f2) hydrolysing the product obtained in step f1).

Abstract: The present invention concerns processes for the preparation of each of the 4 diastereomers of formula (I) in stereochemically pure form from either of two enantiomerically pure precursors. The tetracyclic ringsystem having trans-fused five and seven membered rings is formed in an acid-catalysed cyclization reaction. The invention further relates to the thus obtained cis-fused tetracyclic alcohol intermediates, the methanamine end-products, the methanamine end-products for use as a medicine, in particular as CNS active medicines.

Abstract: The present invention concerns processes for the preparation of each of the 4 diastereomers of formula (I) in stereochemically pure form from either of two enantiomerically pure precursors. The tetracyclic ringsystem having trans-fused five and seven membered rings is formed in an acid-catalysed cyclization reaction. The invention further relates to the thus obtained cis-fused tetracyclic alcohol intermediates, the methanamine end-products, the methanamine end-products for use as a medicine, in particular as CNS active medicines.