Process for 5-[[2(r)-[1(r)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethoxy]-3(s)-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-morpholinyl]methyl]-1,2-dihydro-3h-1.,2,4-triazol-3-one

1. A process for preparing a compound of the formula 1a:

comprising:

reacting the hydrochloride salt of a compound of formula 2a:

in the presence of:

potassium carbonate;

toluene; and

dimethylsulfoxide;

with a compound of the formula 3:

to produce a compound of the formula 4a:

washing the compound of formula 4a with an aqueous salt solution;

drying;

and cyclizing the compound of formula 4a at a temperature of 140-150° C. to give the compound of formula 1a.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous salt solution contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: KCl, KHCO 3 , K 2 CO 3 , Na 2 CO 3 , NaHCO 3 and NaCl.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the aqueous salt solution contains KCl.