Processes for the preparation of 2-aminomethylpyridines and the 2-cyanopyridines used in their preparation

1. A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula (II):

or a salt thereof, wherein X is halogen; each Y, which may be the same or different, is halogen, haloalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl or alkylsulphonyl, and n is 0 to 3;

which process comprises treating a compound of the formula (III):

with a cyanide source and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a tetraalkyl ammonium salt and a tetraalkyl phosphonium salt in an aqueous solvent or without solvent,

wherein:

X is halogen; each Y, which may be the same or different, is halogen, haloalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl or alkylsulphonyl: and n is 0 to 3; and wherein the cyanide source is hydrogen cyanide, an alkali metal cyanide, an alkaline earth metal cyanide or an optionally substituted ammonium cyanide.

2. A process according to claim 1 , in which the catalyst is selected from tricaprylylmethylammonium chloride and tetra-n-octylammonium bromide.

3. A process according to claim 1 in which the amount of catalyst used is from 0.01 to 10 mol %.

4. A process according to claim 1 in which the cyanide source is potassium cyanide.

5. A process according to claim 1 in which the amount of cyanide source used is from 1.0 to 2.0 molar equivalents.

6. A process according to claim 1 in which the solvent is water.

7. A process according to claim 1 in which the temperature is from 10 to 60° C.

8. A process according to claim 1 in which the compound of formula (III) is 3-chloro-2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethylpyridine.