Synthesis of Diclofenac

 Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used primarily for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. Here's a general outline of the synthetic process:

Synthesis of Diclofenac

1. Starting Material: The synthesis of diclofenac begins with 2,6-dichloroaniline as the primary starting compound.

2. Diazotization Reaction:

   • 2,6-dichloroaniline is first diazotized using sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) in the presence of hydrochloric acid (HCl).
   • This generates a diazonium salt.

3. Coupling Reaction:

   • The diazonium salt is then reacted with copper(I) chloride (CuCl) in a Sandmeyer reaction, leading to the formation of 2,6-dichlorobenzene.

4. Friedel-Crafts Acylation:

   • The next step is the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction. The 2,6-dichlorobenzene undergoes acylation with chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) as a catalyst.
   • This leads to the formation of 2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)acetic acid chloride.

5. Hydrolysis:

   • The intermediate acid chloride is then hydrolyzed to give the corresponding acetic acid derivative.

6. Final Step:

   • The acetic acid derivative is then subjected to esterification to obtain the final diclofenac molecule.

The overall process is relatively straightforward, but variations in solvents, catalysts, and reagents may be used depending on the specific synthetic pathway employed by manufacturers.