Process for the synthesis of (7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-1-naphthalenyl) acetonitrile and its application in the synthesis of agomelatine

A process for the synthesis of agomelatine wherein 7-methoxy-1-tetralone of formula (IV):

• is reacted with cyanoacetic acid of formula (V):
• under conditions wherein the water formed is removed, in the presence of a catalytic amount of a compound of formula (VI):
• wherein R and R′, which may be the same or different, each represents linear or branched (C3-C10)alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, or unsubstituted or substituted linear or branched aryl (C1-C6)alkyl,
• to yield the compound of formula (I) after filtration and washing with a basic solution, wherein the compound of formula (I) is isolated in the form of a solid after recrystallisation
• it being understood that:
• aryl may be phenyl, naphthyl or biphenyl, the term “substituted” associated with the terms “aryl” and “arylalkyl” denotes that the aromatic moiety of those groups may be substituted by one or more, identical or different, groups selected from linear or branched (C1-C6)alkyl, hydroxy and linear or branched (C1-C6)alkoxy,
• which compound of formula (I) is subjected to aromatisation followed by reduction and then to coupling with acetic anhydride to yield agomelatine.