Patent ID: 8049011

Claim:
A process for the production of levocetirizine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising the steps: a) reaction of an intermediate of the formula II to an intermediate of the formula III or a salt thereof wherein X is —C(═O)—CH 2 —O—CH 2 —R, wherein R is COOH; COX, wherein X is halogen; COOM, wherein M is alkali or earth alkali metal or N(R 1 ) 4 ; CONH 2 ; CONR 1 R 2 , COOR 1 , or CN, wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from H, lower alkyl group, aryl group; b) conversion of the intermediate III or the salt thereof to levocetirizine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.