Synthetic method for roflumilast

The invention provides a synthetic method for roflumilast. The method comprises the following steps: (a), in an organic solvent, producing an exchange reaction of a compound (I) and magnesium or a Grignard reagent under the backflow condition to generate an intermediate, and producing a carbonyl insertion reaction of the intermediate and carbon dioxide at 0-50 DEG C to obtain a compound (II); or in the organic solvent, reacting the compound (I) with n-butyl lithium at 90 DEG C below zero to 70 DEG C below zero to generate an intermediate, and producing a carbonyl insertion reaction of the intermediate and carbon dioxide at 90 DEG C below zero to 70 DEG C below zero to obtain a compound (II); (b) in the organic solvent, reacting the compound (II) obtained in the step (a) with pivaloyl chloride or sulfonyl chloride at 0-50 DEG C in the presence of alkali to generate a mixed anhydride intermediate, and reacting the mixed anhydride intermediate with 3,5-dichloro-4-aminopyridine at 0-70 DEG C to obtain a compound (III) which is roflumilast. The method is short in process route, low in raw material and reagent costs, high in total yield, mild in reaction condition and suitable for industrialized production. The synthetic route of the method is as shown in the descriptions.