Process for the preparation of Vortioxetina

A process for the preparation of vortioxetina or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which process comprises reacting a compound of formula I ** ** Formula wherein each Hal independently represents fluorine or chlorine; R 'represents H or R' represents one or two moieties independently selected from CHO, COOH, COOR '' 'or COONR2' '', or R 'represents one to five moieties independently selected from C1-6alkyl; R '' 'independently represents H or C1-6 alkyl; and X- represents a non-coordinating and non-nucleophilic anion, with a piperazine of formula II ** ** Formula wherein R represents H, and with a compound of formula III ** ** Formula wherein R 'represents H or a cation and a base as needed in a solvent to obtain a compound of formula IV ** ** formula followed by a step of decomplexing in which the cyclopentadienyl iron is optionally substituted decomplexed to give 1- [2- (2,4- dimethyl-phenylsulfanyl) -phenyl] -piperazine (vortioxetina).