1515The invention relates to a new process for the production and/or purification of the salt of the compound (S) 2 [4 (2 fluorobenzyloxy) benzylamino]propanamide i.e. ralfinamide or the respective R enantiomer with methanesulfonic acid in high yields and very high enantiomeric and chemical purity in the form of the crystalline anhydrous polymorph identified as form A wherein said salt is substantially free from impurities having genotoxic effect such as (C C)alkanylmethanesulfonates and residual solvents known as potential precursors thereof such as (C C)alkanols or esters thereof with lower alkanoic acids. The process foresees (i) production and/or crystallization of the salt from water acetone an aliphatic ketone of 4 5 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof with water or (ii) slurring the solid salt with (a) water (b) a mixture of water with acetone or an aliphatic ketone of 4 5 carbon atoms (c) acetone an aliphatic ketone of 4 5 carbon atoms or a mixture thereof or (iii) exposure of the solid salt to air stream having high degree of relative humidity and when the obtained product consists as a whole or in part of crystalline hemihydrate pseudopolymorph form H crystals converting said product into anhydrous form A crystals by submitting it to water removal. The crystalline hemihydrate pseudopolymorph form H of ralfinamide methanesulfonate or its R enantiomer is a useful intermediate for obtaining the crystalline anhydrous polymorph A free from the above impurities having genotoxic effect and/or residual solvents known as precursors thereof and exhibits a physicochemical profile conferring significant advantages in the design and development of solid dosage forms in particular of modified release formulations.
