Novel process for the preparation of bilastine and intermediates thereof

A process for the preparation of Bilastine (I), comprising:

• i. acetylation of 2-phenylethanol (V) in presence of suitable acetylating reagent and aluminium chloride to form compound (VI);
• wherein, R is defined as COCH(CH3)2 or COCH3,
• ii. conversion of compound (VI) in presence of a suitable oxidative reagent and a metal halide to form compound (VII);
• wherein, R is defined as COCH(CH3)2 or COCH3;
• R1 is C1-C4 alkyl.
• iii. hydrolysis of compound (VII) in the presence of a suitable base to form compound (VIII);
• wherein, R is defined as COCH(CH3)2 or COCH3;
• R1 is C1-C4 alkyl.
• iv. conversion of compound (VIII) with a suitable reagent to form compound (II);
• wherein, R1 is C1-C4 alkyl;
• R2 is halo or SO3CH3
• v. coupling of compounds (II) with 1-(2-ethoxyethyl)-2-(piperidin-4-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (III) in presence of a suitable base to form compound (IV);
• wherein, R1 is C1-C4 alkyl;
• R2 is halo or SO3CH3
• and
• vi. hydrolysis of compound (IV) with a suitable base to obtain Bilastine (I), wherein the Bilastine (1) obtained has total impurities less than 0.5% (w/w).