Ethyl (S)-2-ethoxy-4-[N-(1-(2-piperidino-phenyl)-3-methyl-1-butyl)-amino carbonylmethyl]-benzoate (4.5 g, 0.0093 mol) was dissolved in methanol (45 ml), followed by the addition of sodium hydroxide solution (0.75 g of sodium hydroxide dissolved in 6 ml water). The reaction mixture was heated at 60-65° C. for 3-4 hours. Methanol (80-85%) was removed from the reaction mixture under vacuum. The remaining reaction mixture was diluted with water (45 ml) and pH was adjusted to 6.5-7.0 with 1N HCl. The precipitated solid was stirred for 2-3 hours followed by filtration and washing with water (45 ml). The product was further dried at 50-55° C. under vacuum for 6-8 hours to produce Repaglinide (Yield=83.2%; HPLC Purity: 99.89%).
