This compound has been obtained by two related ways: 1) The condensation of 3,3'-difluorobenzophenone (I) with diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate (II) by means of NaH in dimethoxyethane gives 3,3-bis(3-fluorophenyl)-2-propenenitrile (III), which is reduced with H2 over Pd(OH)2 in ethanol yielding 3,3-bis(3-fluorophenyl)propionitrile (IV). Finally, this compound is reduced with B2H6 in THF. 2) The condensation of 3,3'-difluorobenzophenone (I) with acetonitrile (V) by means of BuLi in THF gives 3,3-bis(3-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxypropionitrile (VI), which is reduced with H2 over Ni/Al in ethanol yielding 3,3-bis(3-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxypropylamine (VII). The dehydration of (VII) by means of HCl in refluxing ethanol affords 3,3-bis(3-fluorophenyl)-2-propenamine (VIII), which is finally reduced with H2 over Pd/C in ethanol.

Alternatively, the desired compound can be obtained as follows: Treatment of diethyl cyanomethyl phosphonate (VII) with NaH in dimethoxyethane (DME) followed by reaction with 3,3'-difluorobenzophenone (VIII) gives alkene derivative (IX), which is then hydrogenated over Pd(OH)2 to provide compound (X). Reduction of the cyano moiety of (X) by means of B2H6-THF followed by treatment with refluxing HCl yields substituted propylamine (XI), which is then converted into formamide (XIII) by treatment with refluxing ethyl formate (XII). Compound (XIII) is then reduced by means of borane-methyl sulfide in refluxing THF and finally treated with HCl. Propylamine (XI) can also be obtained following these steps: Treatment of benzophenone derivative (VIII) with n-BuLi and acetonitrile in THF affords cyano derivative (XIV), which is then hydrogenated over Ni/Al and NaOH in EtOH to furnish amine (XV). Elimination of the tertiary alcohol (XV) by refluxing with HCl in EtOH gives substituted diphenylpropenamine hydrochloride (XVI), which is hydrogenated over Pd/C in EtOH and finally subjected to hydrochloride salt neutralization.

The desired enantiomer was prepared by two chiral routes. Monoalkylation of (S)-alpha-methylbenzylamine (I) with benzyl bromide in N,N'-dimethylpropyleneurea gave the chiral secondary amine (II). Diastereoselective Michael addition of the lithium amide of (II) to benzyl crotonate (III) provided adduct (IV). The chiral ester (IV) was then reacted with the Grignard reagent (V) to yield the diaryl carbinol (VI). This was subsequently dehydrated to (VII) using H2SO4 in glacial HOAc. Double bond reduction and N-debenzylation of (VII) over Pearlman抯 catalyst provided the target primary amine, which was finally isolated as the hydrochloride salt.