Method and intermediates for the preparation of derivatives of N (1-benzhydrylazetidin-3-yl)-N-phenylmethylsulfonamide

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

wherein

R and R′ represent, independently of each other, one or more hydrogen, halogen (Cl, F, Br or I), cyano, nitro, linear or branched alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, linear or branched alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, linear or branched alkyl carboxylate of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl or trifluoromethoxy;

comprising

reacting a compound of formula (V) or an acid salt thereof:

wherein R and R′ are as defined above;

with epibromohydrin or epichlorohydrin at a temperature in the range of from about 20° C. to about 150° C. in an organic solvent in the presence of a suitable base selected from the group consisting of lithium hydrogen carbonate, lithium carbonate, lithium phosphate, lithium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, tripotassium phosphate, potassium hydroxide, cesium hydrogen carbonate, cesium carbonate, cesium phosphate, cesium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, sodium t-amyloxide, sodium t-butoxide, potassium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, potassium t-amyloxide, potassium t-butoxide, diisopropylamine, 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), 1,5-diazabicyclo [4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) and tetramethylguanidine, and in the presence of an additive, optionally in an aqueous phase.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the base is a combination of sodium hydrogen carbonate and anhydrous tripotassium phosphate.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said additive is sodium iodide.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent is n-butanol.