Preparation of 4-((6BR,10AS)-3-methyl-2,3,6B,9,10, 10A-hexahydro-1H-pyrido[3′,4′:4,5]pyrrolo [1,2,3-de]quinoxalin-8-(7H)-yl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-butanone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

A method for preparing a compound of Formula 2J:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:
• (i) k is 1;
• (ii) m is 1;
• (iii) n is 1;
• (iv) R1 is 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl;
• (v) R5 is H;
• (vi) R6a and R6b are H;
• (vii) R7, R8 and R9 are H;
• (viii) R10 is —CH3;
• and
• (ix) X is N;
• comprising the steps of:
• a) deprotecting a compound of Formula 2H:
• wherein:
• (i) k is 1;
• (ii) m is 1;
• (iii) n is 1;
• (iv) B is benzyl or triphenylmethyl;
• or
• B is a compound of the Formula:
• wherein:
• (a) P is —C(O)—, —C(O)O— or —S(O)2—;
• and
• (b) Z is C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaryl, aryl or —OR, where R is C1-6alkyl, aryl, arylC1-6alkyl or heteroarylC1-6alkyl;
• (v) R5 is H;
• (vi) R6a and R6b are H;
• (vii) R7, R8 and R9 are H;
• (viii) R10 is —CH3;
• and
• (ix) X is N;
• to give a compound of Formula 2I:
• wherein:
• (i) k is 1;
• (ii) m is 1;
• (iii) n is 1;
• (iv) R5 is H;
• (v) R6a and R6b are H;
• (vi) R7, R8 and R9 are H;
• (vii) R10 is —CH3;
• and
• (viii) X is N;
• b) alkylating the compound of Formula 2I:
• wherein:
• (i) k is 1;
• (ii) m is 1;
• (iii) n is 1;
• (iv) R5 is H;
• (v) R6a and R6b are H;
• (vi) R7, R8 and R9 are H;
• (vii) R10 is —CH3;
• and
• (viii) X is N;
• with 4-chloro-4′-fluorobutyrophenone in the presence of a base to give the compound of Formula 2J;
• and
• c) optionally reacting the compound of Formula 2J with an acid to give a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula 2J.