Crystalline 2-fluoro-3-nitrotoluene and process for the preparation thereof

A process for the synthesis of a compound of formula (II):

• or a salt thereof,
• wherein said process comprises the steps of:
• preparing crystalline 2-fluoro-3-nitrotoluene of formula (I):
• according to a process which comprises crystallization of the 2-fluoro-3-nitrotoluene of formula (I) from a mixture of water and a solvent selected from a C1-C3 alcohol, wherein the crystalline 2-fluoro-3-nitrotoluene of formula (I) has a DSC onset peak at a value among 25.0 and 26.0° C. or a DSC maximum peak at a value among 26.0 and 27.5° C. or an X-ray powder diffraction pattern comprising a peak expressed in 2-Theta values (2θ) at 14.3±0.2;
• and
• converting said crystalline 2-fluoro-3-nitrotoluene into the compound of formula (II), or a salt thereof.