AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF BACLOFEN AND ITS INTERMEDIATE

The present invention provides an improved process for the preparation of 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-cyanopropanoic acid (compound (A)) and further its transformation to Baclofen (I). The process comprises reaction of compound (II) with Glyoxylic acid to obtain 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-cyanoacrylic acid (III); followed by the 'in-situ' reduction of (III) in the presence of a reducing agent to provide the compound (A).Alternatively, the compound (A) is obtained by the process comprising reacting 2-(4-chlorophenyl)acetonitrile (II) with haloacetic acid (IV) in the presence of a base.The compound 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-cyanopropanoic acid (A) undergoes hydrogenation in the presence of a metal catalyst and ammonia solution to provide Baclofen (I).