xiiaa 1 01 g 5 659 mmol nai 846 mg na 2 co 3 3 g and u03b1 u03b1 u03b1 trifluorotoluene 15 ml is refluxed in an argon atmosphere for 61 hours 30 ml of water is then added at 40 u00b0 c the mixture is cooled down to 20 u00b0 c within 30 minutes and then stirred at this temperature for 1 hour the free base of vortioxetine is extracted several times with mtbe the extract is washed with brine 2 u00d7 and water 1 u00d7 and dried with magnesium sulphate a solution of 3 5 dinitrobenzoic acid 1 20 g in 10 ml of boiling etoac is added to the concentrated solution of the base the mixture is heated up to reflux slowly cooled down to 20 u00b0 c stirred at this temperature for 1 hour and left in a refrigerator overnight the separated salt is filtered off washed with ice cold etoac and dried 1 74 g of pale yellow crystals were obtained hplc purity 95 yield 60 2 2 4 dimethylphenylsulphanyl benzeneamine hydrochloride of formula xi hcl 15 g 56 43 mmol is suspended in a mixture of 37 ml of toluene and 60 ml of water after addition of 12 g of sodium carbonate the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 1 hour the reaction mixture is poured into a separatory funnel and thoroughly shaken the separated aqueous phase is extracted 1 u00d7 18 ml.