Process for the preparation of thieno(3,2-c) pyridine and derivatives thereof

Process for the preparation of compounds having the formula:

• ##STR7## in which R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and the alkyl groups having 1-6 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and the lower alkyl groups having 1-6 carbon atoms, comprising reacting at room temperature in methylene chloride or chloroform as a solvent and in the presence of a hydrohalic acid binding agent, a compound of the formula (II):
• ##STR8## in which the radicals R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 having the above-defined meanings and R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a benzyl radical and a substituted benzyl radical, with a halosulfonated derivative of the formula:
• Hal -- SO.sub.2 -- R (III)
• in which Hal represents halogen and R is selected from the group consisting of the alkyl groups, the substituted alkyl groups, the aryl groups, the substituted aryl groups, the aralkyl groups and the substituted aralkyl groups, to give a N-substituted derivative having the formula:
• ##STR9## in which the various symbols having the above-defined meanings and heating the sulfonated derivative of the formula (IV) in an organic solvent selected from dioxane and the lower alkanols at refluxing temperature in the presence of an acid, to give the compound of the formula (I).