Methods of preparing a fenfluramine active pharmaceutical ingredient are provided. Aspects of the method include (a) hydrolyzing a 2-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetonitrile composition to produce a 2-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetic acid composition; (b) reacting the 2-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetic acid composition with acetic anhydride and a catalyst to produce a 1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)propan-2-one composition; and (c) reductively aminating the 1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)propan-2-one composition with ethylamine using a borohydride reducing agent to produce a fenfluramine composition. Also provided are compositions and pharmaceutical ingredients prepared according to the subject methods including a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of fenfluramine and having less than 0.2% by weight in total of trifluoromethyl regioisomers.

Methods of preparing a fenfluramine active pharmaceutical ingredient are provided. Aspects of the method include (a) hydrolyzing a 2-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetonitrile composition to produce a 2-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetic acid composition; (b) reacting the 2-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetic acid composition with acetic anhydride and a catalyst to produce a 1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)propan-2-one composition; and (c) reductively aminating the 1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)propan-2-one composition with ethylamine using a borohydride reducing agent to produce a fenfluramine composition. Also provided are compositions and pharmaceutical ingredients prepared according to the subject methods including a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of fenfluramine and having less than 0.2% by weight in total of trifluoromethyl regioisomers.

##STR00001##

A method for preparing a compound of Formula (1) and compounds therefrom, comprising treating a compound of Formula (2) to provide a compound of Formula (5) and treating the compound of Formula (5) with a hydroxylamine salt wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and m are as defined in the specification. The compound of Formula (1), prepared by the above method, can be used to prepare a compound of Formula (8) wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and m are as defined in the specification.

##STR00001##

A method for preparing a compound of Formula (1) and compounds therefrom, comprising treating a compound of Formula (2) to provide a compound of Formula (5) and treating the compound of Formula (5) with a hydroxylamine salt wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and m are as defined in the specification. The compound of Formula (1), prepared by the above method, can be used to prepare a compound of Formula (8) wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and m are as defined in the specification.

An object of the present invention is to enable the synthesis of various fluorine-containing compounds having an organic group at both terminals of their tetrafluoroethylene structure (—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—). The present invention provides a fluorine-containing complex compound including a fluorine-containing organic metal compound represented by formula (1a):
R.sup.1—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2-M.sup.1  (1a)
wherein M.sup.1 is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, nickel, iron, cobalt, and tin; and R.sup.1 represents an organic group, and at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of pyridine ring-containing compounds and phosphines.

An object of the present invention is to enable the synthesis of various fluorine-containing compounds having an organic group at both terminals of their tetrafluoroethylene structure (—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—). The present invention provides a fluorine-containing complex compound including a fluorine-containing organic metal compound represented by formula (1a):
R.sup.1—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2-M.sup.1  (1a)
wherein M.sup.1 is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, nickel, iron, cobalt, and tin; and R.sup.1 represents an organic group, and at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of pyridine ring-containing compounds and phosphines.

An object of the present invention is to enable the synthesis of various fluorine-containing compounds having an organic group at both terminals of their tetrafluoroethylene structure (—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—). The present invention provides a fluorine-containing complex compound including a fluorine-containing organic metal compound represented by formula (1a):
R.sup.1—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2-M.sup.1  (1a)
wherein M.sup.1 is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, nickel, iron, cobalt, and tin; and R.sup.1 represents an organic group, and at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of pyridine ring-containing compounds and phosphines.

An object of the present invention is to enable the synthesis of various fluorine-containing compounds having an organic group at both terminals of their tetrafluoroethylene structure (—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—). The present invention provides a fluorine-containing complex compound including a fluorine-containing organic metal compound represented by formula (1a):
R.sup.1—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2-M.sup.1  (1a)
wherein M.sup.1 is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, nickel, iron, cobalt, and tin; and R.sup.1 represents an organic group, and at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of pyridine ring-containing compounds and phosphines.

An object of the present invention is to enable the synthesis of various fluorine-containing compounds having an organic group at both terminals of their tetrafluoroethylene structure (—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—). The present invention provides a fluorine-containing complex compound including a fluorine-containing organic metal compound represented by formula (1a):
R.sup.1—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2-M.sup.1  (1a)
wherein M.sup.1 is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, nickel, iron, cobalt, and tin; and R.sup.1 represents an organic group, and at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of pyridine ring-containing compounds and phosphines.

An object of the present invention is to enable the synthesis of various fluorine-containing compounds having an organic group at both terminals of their tetrafluoroethylene structure (—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2—). The present invention provides a fluorine-containing complex compound including a fluorine-containing organic metal compound represented by formula (1a):
R.sup.1—CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2-M.sup.1  (1a)
wherein M.sup.1 is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, nickel, iron, cobalt, and tin; and R.sup.1 represents an organic group, and at least one ligand selected from the group consisting of pyridine ring-containing compounds and phosphines.