FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to method of industrial synthesis of N-[2-(7-methoxy-1-naphthyl)ethyl]acetamide of formula (I)
method is realised by interaction of allyl cyanide of formula (II) 
with compound of formula (III) 
in presence of free-radical initiator, where Xa represents group -S-C(S)-OR, in which R represents linear or branched (C1-C6)alkyl group, to obtain compound of formula (IV) 
in which Xa is such as determined above. Compound of formula (IV) optionally can be separated before it is subjected to cyclisation reaction in presence of free-radical initiator to obtain compound of formula (V) 
Compound of formula (V), also optionally, can be separated before it is subjected to reaction of reduction/dehydration to obtain compound of formula (VI) 
which is after that subjected to aromatisation reaction to obtain compound of formula (VII) 
which is subjected to reduction with hydrogen in presence of Raney nickel in polar protic medium and reaction with acetic anhydride to obtain compound of formula (I), which is separated in form of solid substance. Also claimed are novel intermediate compounds, namely (7-methoxy-4-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthalenyl)acetonitryl of formula (V) and (7-methoxy-1,2-dihydro-1-naphthalenyl)acetonitryl of formula (VI).
EFFECT: obtaining agomelatine from simple initial substances, which are easily available in great amounts at low cost.
20 cl, 2 ex
