Abstract– N-[3-(3-Cyanopyrazolo [1, 5-a] pyrimidin-5-yl) phenyl]-N-ethylacetamide, a principal impurity of zaleplon, is prepared by Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction of the corresponding boronic acid and/or boronates with 5-chloropyrazolo [1, 5-a] pyrimidin-3- carbonitrile (7). Various methods of preparation of both components are described, as well as approaches based on the final modification of the 5-(3-aminophenyl)-pyrazolo [1, 5-a] ...