Process and intermediate

1. A process, comprising:

reacting a compound of Formula (I)

wherein

X, Y and Z, independently of each other, represent fluoro, chloro or C 1-4 alkyl, and with the proviso that 1 or 2 of X and Y are, independently of each other, fluoro or chloro;

with an acid in the presence of water, and a hydrocarbon solvent to form a compound of Formula (III)

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is benzene.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is mesitylene.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is xylene.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is toluene.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the reacting of the compound of Formula (I) to form the compound of Formula (III) is under distillation conditions.

8. The process of claim 6 , wherein the water and aromatic hydrocarbon solvent form an azeotrope.

9. The process of claim 6 , wherein the reacting of the compound of Formula (I) to form the compound of Formula (III) is at a temperature of 120 to 155° C.

10. The process of claim 6 , wherein the reacting of the compound of Formula (I) to form the compound of Formula (III) is at increased pressure.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein X, Y, and Z are defined as follows:

X

Y

Z

CH 3

F

CH 3

CH 3

Cl

CH 3

F

CH 3

CH 3

Cl

CH 3

CH 3

F

F

CH 3

Cl

Cl

CH 3 .

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein X is CH 3 , Y is Cl, and Z is CH 3 .

13. A process, comprising:

preparing a reaction vessel with solid sodium hydroxide and an inert atmosphere;

adding a dipolar aprotic solvent to the reaction vessel;

cooling the reaction vessel containing the dipolar aprotic solvent and solid sodium hydroxide and adding malononitrile to the reaction vessel;

adding 2-bromo-5-chloro-1,3-dimethyl-benzene to the reaction vessel; and

adding a mixture containing palladium (II) and a second dipolar aprotic solvent to the reaction vessel and forming 2-(4-chloro-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)propanedinitrile.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein cooling is below room-temperature.

15. The process of claim 14 , further comprising distilling off the dipolar aprotic solvent after cooling.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein the dipolar aprotic solvent and the second dipolar aprotic solvent are selected from at least one of N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N,N′-dimethylethyleneurea.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the dipolar aprotic solvent and the second dipolar aprotic solvent are N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and the temperature of the reaction vessel is between 80 to 170° C. when the reaction vessel contains 2-bromo-5-chloro-1,3-dimethyl-benzene and the palladium (II) catalyst.

18. The process of claim 1 , further comprising reacting the compound of Formula (III) with a compound of Formula (V),

wherein R 1 is C 1-4 alkoxy, a compound of formula (VI),

wherein R 2 is phenyl or phenyl substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 haloalkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, halogen and nitro, and an amine of formula A-NH 2 , wherein A is C 1-4 alkyl, to form a compound of Formula (IV),

reacting the compound of formula (IV) with a base to form a compound of Formula (VII),

and

reacting the compound of Formula (VII) with an acid halide to form a compound of Formula (VIII),

wherein G is C(O)R, and R is C 1-4 alkoxy.

19. The process of claim 18 , wherein:

X is CH 3 , Y is Cl, and Z is CH 3 ;

A is methyl;

R 1 is methoxy; and

R is ethoxy.