Process for the preparation of pazopanib or salts thereof

A process for the preparation of pazopanib of Formula Ia or salts thereof

• comprising:
• i) treating 2,3-dimethyl-6-nitro-2H-indazole with Raney nickel to obtain a compound of Formula II;
• ii) treating the compound of Formula II at a temperature of 25° C. to 30° C. with 2,4-dichloropyrimidine to obtain a compound of Formula III
• wherein steps i) and ii) are carried out in a single solvent comprising methanol circumventing heating and cooling procedures, and without isolating the compound of Formula II from the reaction mixture;
• iii) converting the compound of Formula III to pazopanib of Formula Ia or salts thereof;
• and
• iv) isolating pazopanib of Formula Ia or salts thereof.