“Cold” Synthesis of a New Antidepressant Drug S 3344

A “cold” synthetic route to 7-(4-fluorobenzylamino)-8-methylnonanoïc acid, a new antidepressant drug, is reported. This method can be used to obtain the tritium labelled compound in C₈-C₉ position. The synthesis involves introduction of double bond on the aliphatic chain, reduction of this and hydrolysis in alkaline medium of the ester function.