Process for converting S-enantiomer to its racemic form

1. A process for the preparation of (R,S)-7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-amine having the following Formula (I), starting with (S)-7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-amine having the following Formula (II),

comprising the steps of:

(a) acylating the (S)-7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-amine to obtain an indaneamide derivative;

(b) oxidizing said indaneamide derivative to obtain 3-hydroxyl indaneamide derivative;

(c) dehydrating said 3-hydroxyl indaneamide derivative to obtain indeneamide derivative;

(d) deacylating said indeneamide derivative to obtain indene amine derivative; and

(e) hydrogenating said indene amine derivative to obtain the desired (R,S)-7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-amine.

2. A process according to claim 1 , which comprises:

(a) acylating the compound of Formula (II) with an acylating agent of Formula RC(O)X to give a corresponding indaneamide derivative of Formula (III);

(b) oxidization of said indaneamide derivative to give the corresponding 3-hydroxyl indaneamide derivative of Formula (IV)

(c) dehydration of said 3-hydroxyl indaneamide derivative to give the corresponding indeneamide derivative of Formula (V);

(d) deacylation of said indeneamide derivative to give the corresponding indeneamine derivative of Formula (VI); and

(e) hydrogenation of said indeneamine derivative to obtain the desired (R,S)-7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-amine,

wherein,

R is selected from a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group, these groups being optionally substituted with one or more of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and/or halogen atoms;

X is a leaving group selected from: (i) a hydroxy group; (ii) a halogen atom; (iii) a C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfonyloxy group; (iv) a C 6 -C 10 arylsulfonyloxy group, (v) a R a COO group wherein R a is a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, the groups (iii)-(v) being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein step (c) is carried out prior to or subsequent to step (d), or these two steps are carried out concurrently.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said acylating agent RC(O)X is selected from acyl halide and anhydride, preferably from acetyl chloride, acetic anhydride or mixture thereof.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said step (a) is carried out at elevated temperature, preferably ranging from about 80° C. to about 120° C., more preferably from about 80° C. to about 100° C.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein oxidization step (b) comprises reacting said indaneamide derivative in the presence of oxidizing agent preferably selected from KMnO 4 , MnO 2 , SeO 2 , CrO 3 , or mixture thereof, to yield 3-hydroxyl indaneamide derivative.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein dehydration step (c) comprises reacting said 3-hydroxyl indaneamide derivative dissolved in an organic solvent, preferably a polar solvent, and more preferably selected from hexane, heptanes, methylene chloride, dichloroethane, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, toluene, ethyl acetate and mixtures thereof, in the presence of strong acid preferably selected from HCl, HBr, H 2 SO 4 or mixture thereof, to yield indeneamide.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the dehydration step (c) is carried out at room temperature, preferably ranging from about 25° C. to about 40° C.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein deacylation step (d) comprises: contacting said indeneamide with a strong acid at elevated temperature to give an addition salt of indeneamine; and then said addition salt is treated with base solution to yield the desired (R,S)-7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-amine.

10. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the elevated temperature in step (d) is ranging from about 90° C. to about 120° C., more preferably from about 100° C. to about 120° C.

11. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the strong acid in step (d) is selected from HCl, HBr, H 2 SO 4 and mixtures thereof.

12. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the base in step (d) is selected from Na0H, NaHCO 3 , KOH and mixtures thereof.

13. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said hydrogenation step (e) comprises: contacting said indeneamine dissolved in an organic solvent with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, to obtain the desired (R,S)-7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-amine.

14. The process according to claim 13 , wherein said organic solvent in step (e) is a polar solvent, and preferably selected from hexane, heptanes, methylene chloride, dichloroethane, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, toluene, ethyl acetate and mixtures thereof.

15. The process according to claim 13 , wherein said hydrogenation catalyst in step (e) is Group (X) metal catalysts, preferably selected from nickel, palladium and platinum and mixture thereof, more preferably Pd—C catalyst.